CIRAD and IRD designated reference centres for zoonotic coronaviruses

Their main tasks will be to:
•    Conduct projects to assess and manage the risks linked to zoonotic  coronaviruses in Southeast Asia and central and West Africa
•    Provide technical support in terms of disease diagnosis and surveillance at the interface between wildlife and domestic animals.

FAO has five other reference centres on this topic, with which CIRAD and IRD will be working closely, in liaison with FAO and UN member States, UN specialist organizations and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
 

Examples of past or current research projects

Innovating to protect biodiversity and to thereby reduce infectious disease outbreaks

The main objective of the BCOMING project is to codevelop innovations in biodiversity hotspots with all stakeholders concerned in order to reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, through biodiversity conservation and zoonotic disease surveillance.

Diagnostic platform for animal and zoonotic disease control in Zimbabwe

The PACMAN project aims to set up a biotechnology platform hosted by the University of Zimbabwe, to increase the country’s autonomy in the diagnosis of animal, plant and zoonotic diseases.

Sustainable wildlife management

The project is being implemented at eight sites in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and aims to protect both wildlife and the food security of local people. CIRAD is working in three countries: Gabon, Zambia and Zimbabwe.