Evaluation commissioner: 13012350 Project code: Project title: RF-2011-02351889 Eco-epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Mediterranean area: a multi-disciplinary approach. Scientific quality, worth of the proposed research and feasibility of the objectives. The proposal addesses an important topic. It is of high quality and it seems possible to reach the objectives with the proposed work. Novelty, originality and transferability. Methodologies and development strategy of the project (detailed over the 3 years of the project), preliminary data and bibliographic references. The proposal seems novel and original in the sense that estabished methods for addressing the spatial and temporal distribution of a pathogen (molecular typing of isolates, geographic information system etc.) in different host populations and their interaction will be used. It can be expected that the results may be transfered into veterinary public health measures. The methods and the the study design seem to be appropriate. Merits of the applicant (general information and contact details), scientific activity (based on the curriculum vitae and publication track records presented by the applicant - 5 best articles, 5 articles related to the topic, taking into consideration the IF of the scientific journals the articles were published in, the number of citations from the publication to the request for funding, and the h-index) and the 5 latest publications. With reference to the projects involving Italian Researchers operating abroad,the data of the Italian researcher operating abroad are relevant too. Expertise of the group of researchers. The principal investigator has experience in the work with M. bovis in the lab. The team for the project seems to be carefully selected with a clear sharing of responsibilities. 2,50 Facilities, infrastructures and equipment available. Economic adequacy and detailed financial statement. Economic consistency of the project. The required equipment, infrastructure and facilities seem to be available. The requested budget is high but appears to be justified in view of the relevance of M. bovis in livestock and as a zoonotic pathogen. Does this project relate to products or ideas already covered by an industrial patent by the co-financing company or otherwise subjected to the rights of a legal subject other than the corresponding Institutional Authority? No, I cannot see that the project relates to product or ideas coverend by a patent etc. No Overall evaluation (half page). This is in an interesting proposal on a disease that has been understudied in many areas of Europe. The study design is clear and there is a good chance that the project may lead to new insights. The principal investigator and his team have experience in the field. They proposed a clear sharing of responsibilites. The requested budget is high but seems justified. Total points 10,00
Evaluation commissioner: 13012355 Project code: Project title: RF-2011-02351889 Eco-epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Mediterranean area: a multi-disciplinary approach. Scientific quality, worth of the proposed research and feasibility of the objectives. Novelty, originality and transferability. Methodologies and development strategy of the project (detailed over the 3 years of the project), preliminary data and bibliographic references. The proposal although ambitious on its objectives has very good scientific quality and it is based on sound experimental evidence. It is well written and fully describes all aspects of its development. The integrated approach to monitor a very serious and challenging zoonotic disease is of great importance to prevent and control eminent public health risks in the area of the study. The research plan is realistic and highly feasible. The project has its originality referred to the integration of the study of the biological phenomena in domestic and wild life species of a certain region (Nebrodi Park) with its spatial and environmental components. This approach will assure a more comprehensive and realistic output. The most innovative part of the proposal includes the use of novel technologies of molecular biology to detect, characterize and follow the spread of Mycobacterium bovis between the susceptible domestic and wild life species and its ecosystem. Furthermore, it also introduces the necessary geospacial reference of the disease findings (animal and environment) to better understand local animal tuberculosis epidemiology. The outputs of the project will certainly produce findings with direct impact in the public health of the area. The methodology is adequate for the project objectives and fully compatible with the applicant and his team skills. There is already published preliminary data and access to existing databases (one of the collaborating institutions is the National Reference Centre for Bovine Tuberculosis) and important bibliographic references including previous work by the research team. The project uses powerful technical resources and advanced technologies to develop its planned workpackages and is feasible within the proposed timeframe. Total points 9,50
Evaluation commissioner: 13012355 Merits of the applicant (general information and contact details), scientific activity (based on the curriculum vitae and publication track records presented by the applicant - 5 best articles, 5 articles related to the topic, taking into consideration the IF of the scientific journals the articles were published in, the number of citations from the publication to the request for funding, and the h-index) and the 5 latest publications. With reference to the projects involving Italian Researchers operating abroad,the data of the Italian researcher operating abroad are relevant too. Expertise of the group of researchers. Facilities, infrastructures and equipment available. Economic adequacy and detailed financial statement. Economic consistency of the project. Does this project relate to products or ideas already covered by an industrial patent by the co-financing company or otherwise subjected to the rights of a legal subject other than the corresponding Institutional Authority? The applicant is a senior researcher graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1986, with a doctorate obtained in not referred date, and five postgraduate courses in areas as food inspection, poultry pathology, veterinary official control, veterinary public health and animal production research. He has published 14 papers in peer-reviewed journals (first author in one and last in another), being three of these publications directly addressed to the field of the proposal. His Official H Index is 9.0 and, since 2010, he is scientific director of a regional public health laboratory (IZSS) and member of two local committees related to black swine production and protection. The partner institutions experts are senior researchers and some high ranking research managers with good H indexes. They cover all necessary fields of the proposed study. The three partner institutions have facilities, infrastructures and equipment available and highly adequate for the development of the proposal. Both, the overall and the partner s budgets are well described and highly appropriate for the project development. Not to the best of my knowledge. No Total points 9,50
Evaluation commissioner: 13012355 Overall evaluation (half page). The proposal is well presented and based on preliminary studies by the applicant regarding a better understanding of Mycobacterium bovis epidemiology. The study proposes an integrated approach to monitor a very serious and challenging zoonotic disease in a restricted area (Nebrodi Park) using powerful technical resources and cutting-edge technologies to develop its planned workpackages. The proposal although ambitious on its objectives has very good scientific quality and it is based on sound experimental evidence. The project has its originality referred to the integration of the study of the biological phenomena in domestic and wild life species of the referred area with its spatial and environmental components. The proposal includes the use of novel technologies of molecular biology to detect, characterize and follow up the spread of Mycobacterium bovis between the susceptible domestic and wild life species and its ecosystem. A novel proposition is the introduction of an essential geospacial reference of the disease findings (animal and environment) to better understand local animal tuberculosis epidemiology. This approach will assure a more comprehensive and realistic output. The methodology is adequate for the project objectives and fully compatible with the applicant and his research team skills. There is already published preliminary data and access to existing databases (one of the collaborating institutions is the National Reference Centre for Bovine Tuberculosis) and important bibliographic references including previous work by the research team. The three partner institutions provide a very good research environment for the development of the proposal and have requested sufficient funding for its implementation. The applicant is a senior researcher graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1986, with a doctorate and five postgraduate courses in areas as food inspection, poultry pathology, veterinary official control, veterinary public health and animal production research. He has published 14 papers in peer-reviewed journals (first author in one and last in another), being three of these publications directly addressed to the field of the proposal. Since 2010, he is scientific director of a regional public health laboratory (IZSS) and member of two local committees related to black swine production and protection. His Official H Index is 9.0. The partner institutions experts are senior researchers and some high ranking research managers with good H indexes. They cover all necessary fields of the proposed study. Total points 9,50
Evaluation F2F: 13012350-13012355 Project code: Project title: RF-2011-02351889 Eco-epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Mediterranean area: a multi-disciplinary approach. Scientific quality, worth of the proposed research and feasibility of the objectives. Novelty, originality and transferability. Methodologies and development strategy of the project (detailed over the 3 years of the project), preliminary data and bibliographic references. Merits of the applicant (general information and contact details), scientific activity (based on the curriculum vitae and publication track records presented by the applicant - 5 best articles, 5 articles related to the topic, taking into consideration the IF of the scientific journals the articles were published in, the number of citations from the publication to the request for funding, and the h-index) and the 5 latest publications. With reference to the projects involving Italian Researchers operating abroad,the data of the Italian researcher operating abroad are relevant too. Expertise of the group of researchers. Facilities, infrastructures and equipment available. Economic adequacy and detailed financial statement. Economic consistency of the project. Does this project relate to products or ideas already covered by an industrial patent by the co-financing company or otherwise subjected to the rights of a legal subject other than the corresponding Institutional Authority? The proposal is ambitious, it is scientifically sound. The proposed work is realistically planned and feasible. The proposal is novel and original in the sense that estabished methods for addressing the spatial and temporal distribution of a pathogen (molecular typing of isolates, geographic information system etc.) in different host populations and their interaction will be used. It addresses the necessary geospacial reference of the disease findings (animal and environment) to understand the local epidemiology of tuberculosis in animals. The outputs of the project will certainly produce findings with direct impact in the public health of the area. The methods appear to be adequate for the project objectives and fully compatible with the principal investigator and the skills of the team. Related data, though in part preliminary and requiring confirmation through the proposed work, are already published. The team hasaccess to existing databases (one of the collaborating institutions is the National Reference Centre for Bovine Tuberculosis) and the bibliographic references including previous work by the research team. The project uses powerful technical resources and advanced technologies to develop its planned workpackages and is feasible within the proposed timeframe. The principal investigator has experience in the work with M. bovis in the lab. The team for the project seems to be carefully selected with a clear sharing of responsibilities. The required equipment, infrastructure and facilities seem to be available. The requested budget is high but appears to be justified in view of the relevance of M. bovis in livestock and as a zoonotic pathogen. No, there is no evidence that this project relates to such products or ideas. No Total points 9,00
Evaluation F2F: 13012350-13012355 Overall evaluation (half page). This is in an interesting proposal on a disease that has been understudied in many areas of Europe. The study design is clear and there is a good chance that the project may lead to new insights. The principal investigator and his team have experience in the field. They proposed a clear sharing of responsibilites. The requested budget is high but seems justified. Total points 9,00