Over the last two decades, three successive research consortia (EDEN, EDENext, and VectorNet) aimed at improving knowledge of vector-borne diseases and their surveillance and control in Europe and neighboring countries. These diseases include phlebotomine sand fly-borne diseases (SFBDs), such as leishmaniasis and phleboviruses, which are a major concern for public health and veterinary medicine.

CLIMOS – Climate Monitoring and Decision Support Framework for Sand Fly-Borne Diseases Detection and Mitigation with Cost-Benefit and Climate-Policy Measures aims to complement and build on previous efforts. To this end, it will bring together researchers, health-care and veterinary practitioners, technology platform designers, and at-risk communities in order to conduct innovative and applied research seeking to better prepare for current and future impacts of climate and environmental changes on human and animal health. Sand flies and the multiple diseases they transmit serve as a model system.

The main objectives of CLIMOS are:

• Development of the CLIMOS framework for prediction, fast screening, economic assessment, decision support, and sand fly surveillance based on the current ecosystem and stakeholder needs and requirements.
• Data collection from cross-laboratory field studies in ten countries, qualitative data collection, data analysis, and risk assessment to inform policy-making and communication activities.
• Development of decision support models for assessing health and socio-economic impacts of SFBDs, better quantification of SFBDs-related losses, and improved understanding of the cumulative effects of the multiple stressors of climate variability and environmental change on SFBD development and spread.
• Systematic validation of the developed models, tools, and surveillance system in ten countries using the proposed general public risk assessment method for policy-relevant use cases.
• Implementation of a comprehensive scientific and public dissemination policy and outreach program to communicate project results to a broad audience, standardization of vector and pathogen research and identification where possible, and development of new data ontologies.

Beside taking the role of scientific co-coordinator, in CLIMOS, ITAS is the lead partner for the work package (WP) on “Health Impact Assessment and Policy Making.”

The main objective of this WP is to identify plausible impacts of the CLIMOS early warning system (EWS) for climate change effects on the spread of SFBDs. Key stakeholders and citizens will be involved to stimulate discussion and co-develop future scenarios for health and other impacts. In addition, the WP will conduct a cost-benefits analysis and develop a socio-economic analysis for individuals and societies. Finally, it will evaluate and propose public health preparedness and control measures for the hazards posed by SFBDs that can also feed into policy making.

More specifically, ITAS will be responsible for the analysis of impacts of future trends with respect to the EWS for SFBDs and the co-development of health impact scenarios.

The first stage of this process involves the analysis of impacts of future trends with respect to the EWS developed in CLIMOS. It will include a literature review and assessment of potential health impacts. Consideration will also be given to the STEEPED (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political/legal, Ethical, Demographic) dimensions to examine the impact of future trends (climate and environmental change). In addition, qualitative interviews will be conducted with selected stakeholders (CLIMOS partners, surveillance organizations, insurance and agriculture sectors, and others) to fill the gaps in the literature and integrate experiences, insider knowledge, and lessons learned. In the next step, four scenarios will be co-developed in a multi-stage process and in an interaction loop with various stakeholders and experts, including citizen groups and NGOs. Attention will also be paid to the needs of vulnerable and minority groups, whose voices are often not heard. The scenarios will be made available on the CLIMOS website and possibly distributed via social media channels to gather further feedback.

Official project website: CLIMOS – Climate Monitoring and Decision Support Framework for Sand Fly-borne Diseases Detection

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