Erasmus MC
Erasmus MC, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam have joined forces in the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center (
PDPC). PDPC aims to prepare society for future pandemics and disasters. We will reduce vulnerabilities and risks and build resilience through effective disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery measures. Convergence of the technical, medical and social sciences is essential for developing the next generation of approaches to disasters and pandemics. In the foreseeable future, our society can expect many more and unforeseen virus outbreaks and extreme events because of climate change. But how do we protect society from the next pandemic or disaster? Which of the lessons learnt could develop prevention and intervention measures, and how could research contribute to preparedness?
One of the frontrunner projects in the PDPC is about predicting, measuring and quantifying airborne virus transmission, because the ability to spread via the air is a key determinant of pandemic potential of zoonotic respiratory viruses. Quantification of infectious viruses in air and assessing their transmission potential via small or large respiratory droplets is crucial for risk assessments of zoonotic and pandemic outbreaks but is notoriously difficult to perform. The aim of this frontrunner project is to develop methods to predict and quantify the airborne transmission potential of viruses, based on model studies, experiments and outbreak research, that may lead to novel and improved mitigation strategies. This interdisciplinary project brings together scientists from the fields of medicine, virology, epidemiology, public health, exposure science, engineering, physics and electronics in 4 interconnected work packages and PhD candidates are recruited here for 3 of these work packages.
The
Department of Viroscience at Erasmus MC houses more than 150 employees of different disciplines and runs an extensive experimental research program on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of infections by human and animal viruses. All necessary equipment to carry out the research proposed in the projects is available within the setting of the department. The Department of Viroscience harbors well-equipped clinical and experimental virology labs, in which all the virology, molecular biology, pathology and immunology techniques necessary for these projects are operational. The PDPC program at the Viroscience department is connected to many long-term and short-term projects nationally and internationally.
The
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) is is an interfaculty research institute (collaboration of the faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Science) at Utrecht University. IRAS mission is to provide education and research on the human and environmental health risks of exposure to potentially harmful agents in the environment where research takes place within the domains of Toxicology, Environmental Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health. The institute is composed of experts in exposure science, toxicology, molecular biology, epidemiology, and veterinary and human medicine. Together we are generating critical insights in how the environment is affecting the health of humans and animals. The PDPC program is connected to other long-term and short-term One Health projects within IRAS.