The TBFVnet project represents a network of laboratories that aim to study and survey tick-borne flaviviruses, involving six institutes across Central Europe, at the heart of the endemic region. In December 2020 the tbfvnet.eu website has been launched.
The TBFVnet project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. The Project aims to build an international network of laboratories that collect and share expertise, tools and protocols to investigate the biology and the pathogenesis of Tick-Borne flaviviruses (TBFV). The project operates through six institutes across Central Europe, at the heart of the endemic region: the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and Sweden. In December 2020, the dedicated TBFVnet website was launched: www.tbfvnet.eu.
TBFVs include a large number of human and animal pathogens causing severe disease. The project focuses on Tick-Borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Powassan virus (POWV), Luping-ill virus (LIV) and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV). At present no antivirals or treatments for TBFV infections are available and a prophylactic vaccine is only available for Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV).
TBFVnet aims to develop novel diagnostic tools and antivirals against tick-borne flavivirus infections. Efforts will also aim to raise awareness on tick-borne diseases, and involve research centres from other countries to join TBFVnet.
The Project was recently announced by ICGEB, which heads the Communications work package, at its annual Board of Governors session, which brings together representatives from 65 Member States worldwide, and at its Council of Scientific Advisers, which also includes leading scientists and Nobel laureates active in TBFV endemic countries, including the USA.
