The CoMeCT project has successfully sustained and advanced the coordination of cohorts and trials on infectious disease with epidemic potential, and become a scientific advisor to the European Commission (EC) in relation to outbreaks. CoMeCT is unique in its ability to foster communication between networks, also building the bridge between trials and cohorts.
CoMeCT has developed a stringent governance model ensuring transparent communication with the EC and other collaborators, as well as a lean workflow between the boards of the CB and the working groups on data harmonization, exploration and communication. The CB and ORB have been established complementary to the TCB and CCB, and a total of 36 pan- European meetings have been held in these meeting configurations. The project has established a “living” tool in the online Central Data Repository, advanced activities on data harmonization and the sharing of best practices, and developed a website highlighting advancements of the project as well as within the field of infectious disease research. This website features a specific communication section “what’s new in infectious diseases” aimed at increasing understanding of outbreaks, and the importance of research, to the public.
This CSA project has continuous collaborations with other EU funded projects: EU-RESPONSE, MPX-RESPONSE, ECRAID-Prime, ORCHESTRA, VERDI, PIPELINE and PROACTEU-RESPONSE and has formalized cross-activities also with Contagio. We are continuously expanding the project’s network in line with the scope. Additions to our standing network include new platform trials, disease specific cohorts, vaccine research initiatives and global entities and stakeholders.