Presentation from the ECDC 14th NMFP meeting organised by the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control - Stockholm, 12 - 13 May 2016

1. The ECDC public health microbiology
programme 2015-16
14th National Microbiology Focal Points meeting
Marc Struelens, Chief Microbiologist on behalf of
Microbiology Coordination Section, Office of the Chief Scientist
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
14th NMFP, Stockholm, 12-13 May 2016

2. Microbiology Coordination Team
Marc Struelens - Chief Microbiologist, Head of Section
Amanda Ozin - Senior Expert Microbiology
Katrin Leitmeyer - Senior Expert Virology
Barbara Albiger - Expert Microbiology
Joana Revez - Scientific Officer
Signe Gilbro - Communication Officer Web and Social Media
Milka Docheva - Secretary

3. ECDC Strategic Multi-annual Programme 2014–20
Microbiology support
By 2020, ECDC has achieved:
• Consolidation of the capacity of the EU public health
microbiology system for European surveillance and epidemic
preparedness;
• Implementation of a system that assists Member States in
monitoring critical microbiology capabilities;
• Gradual integration of selected molecular typing data into
European surveillance and epidemic investigations for
priority diseases;
• Further integration of EU clinical and public health
laboratories in the surveillance and alert systems for human
and zoonotic pathogens

4. ECDC Microbiology support: weaknesses and
recommendations from external evaluation
Weaknesses/challenges Recommendations
• Least known/appreciated
area of ECDC work
• Communication on outputs and added value
• Consider reorganisation of microbiology
outside of the disease programmes
• Credibility gap • More microbiology expert staff
• Stronger coordination of DP microbiology
support by “micro unit”
• Mixed views on added value • Analysis and demonstration of added value
• Polarised MS views on
molecular typing
• Ensure synergy with TESSy data analysis
• Fast moving diagnostic
technology, WGS
• Perform technology assessment, cost-
effectiveness analysis, guidance and pilot
implementation projects
Source: The second independent evaluation of the ECDC in accordance with its Founding Regulation
(European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) no 851/2004. FINAL REPORT October 2014)

5. ECDC supported laboratory network activities,
2015 (N=12 network/projects*)
Source: ECDC Director Annual Report 2015
• *laboratory networks managed by ECDC Disease Programmes and two advisory committees (MSTF, EUCAST)
Type of work No. of
outputs
External quality assessment 7
Technical guidance 8
Laboratory training courses 9
Technical capacity mapping 7
Cross-border testing services 6
Outbreak investigation support 3

6. First EULabCap report
Source: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/EU-laboratory-capability-monitoring-system-2013.pdf
Critical review of the draft
report at the NMFP13/AF42
joint meeting in May 2015.
Integration of advice on:
- Main conclusions
- Publication format to
enable benchmarking.
Published February 2016.

7. Communication and consultations
Newsletter
• Project updates
• Publications, upcoming events
Extranet
• Documents for written consultation/for information
Webportal
• New microbiology page with repository of EQA
• New: capacity mapping reports/ resources

8. Homepage

9. Homepage

10. Proposed web repository of resources on EU
laboratory capabilities

11. ECDC Joint Strategic Meeting September 2015 –
conclusions on molecular typing
• ECDC to consolidate ongoing molecular typing for
surveillance and prioritise those pathogens/diseases
where it is possible to demonstrate EU public health
benefits.
• Molecular typing for EU surveillance should undergo a
stepwise transition to WGS, based on continuous update
on cost, performance and assessment of public health
value.
• Take into account both ECDC resources and mapping of
national capacities. ECDC should continue supporting
traditional typing methods.

12. Roadmap - V1.2, 2013 for
integration of molecular and
genomic typing into European
level surveillance and
epidemic preparedness
2013
Concept paper: Surveillance
of communicable diseases in
Europe – a concept to
integrate molecular typing
data into EU-level
surveillance. Stockholm ECDC;
2013.
2007
2016
WGS Strategy and
Roadmap - V2.1, 2016-19

13. • Co-drafted and peer-reviewed by ECDC
Diseases programmes
• Prioritised in consultation with MSTF,
November 2015
• Approved internally January 2016
• Submitted for written comments to the
Advisory Forum AF 44 – February 2016
• 6 comments (Belgium, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, European Commission,
WHO/Europe)
• Expected publication: June, 2016
ECDC roadmap for integration of molecular and
genomic typing into European level surveillance and
epidemic preparedness- version 2.1, 2016-19

14. Communication and consultations
Meetings and expert consultations
• 22-24 September 2015 - Joint Strategic Meeting
• 19 November 2015 - WGS strategy at EU level
• 20 November 2015 - MSTF Typing Roadmap prioritisation
Surveys
• June- September 2015: National capacity/plans for WGS
• October 2015: EULabCap 2014 data call and validation
• February 2016, May 2016: ZIKV diagnostic capability

15. European Commission- ECDC collaboration on
reference laboratories, 2015-16
• EMERGE Joint Action
̶ Collaboration on Ebola technical guidance with QUANDHIP, ENIVD,
and the European Mobile Laboratories
̶ ECDC Observer and Advisor to the EMERGE network
̶ Coordination and communication with ENIVD/ EVD-LabNet
• ECDC contribution to CHAFEA study on ‘Cost-benefit analysis
of reference laboratories for human pathogens’
̶ Expert workshops
̶ Study data collection (EU lab networks as case studies)
̶ Draft report review

16. Scientific advice on microbiology RTD projects,
2015-16
ECDC expert contributions/advice to:
• PathNGenTrace
• PREMEDICS
• PREPARE
• COMPARE
• GMI
International conferences
• IMMEM X, March 2016
• 26th ECCMID, April 2016
• EBSA Conference, April 2016
• RAMI-NGS Conference, June 2016

17. ECDC Observerships
ESCV-ESCMID Members

18. Thank you for listening,
ECDC.Microbiology@ecdc.europa.eu