Pan-European One Health network targets infectious disease threats

A new pan-European One Health network has secured COST Action funding to strengthen Europe’s preparedness for infectious disease threats, bringing together more than 70 partners across 21 countries to coordinate research and innovation.

Led by the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), the COST Action network will connect researchers, clinicians, engineers, policymakers, SMEs and international organisations to accelerate the development of tools for detecting, monitoring and preventing infectious diseases.

The initiative, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), is designed to bridge long-standing gaps between research, data systems and real-world deployment. It will focus on strengthening collaboration across human, animal and environmental health under a One Health framework.

The network will run for four years and will bring together expertise across Europe and beyond, with a significant proportion of early-career researchers involved in its structure.

At its core, the programme aims to improve the identification and management of infectious disease threats by addressing fragmentation in surveillance systems, improving data interoperability, and supporting the development of predictive and diagnostic tools.

Six working groups will drive activity across key areas including surveillance harmonisation, interoperable data systems, AI-driven modelling and diagnostics, regulatory alignment, capacity building, and equity in innovation.

Professor Patryk Kot, who is leading the initiative, said the COST Action framework provides a proven mechanism for cross-border collaboration with real-world impact.

“By enabling an end-to-end innovation pipeline and fostering public-private collaboration, our network will help accelerate the translation of research into practical tools for infectious disease detection and response,” he said.

Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON, said the initiative reflects the need for coordinated global action against increasingly complex infectious disease challenges.

Outputs from the network will include harmonised frameworks, validated diagnostic approaches, regulatory roadmaps and open-access tools designed to support uptake across the wider scientific and healthcare community.

The network is expected to formally launch in October 2026.

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