Objective The features of biological toxins like ricin, botulinum toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins and saxitoxin place them at the interface of classical biological and chemical agents. They could be used for terrorist attacks on the basis of their availability, ease of preparation, the high toxicity and/or the lack of medical countermeasures. Some of the toxins are considered among the most relevant agents in the field of bioterrorism, for which the current preparedness within European countries should be further improved to limit casualties in the case of an intentional release.While different technologies for toxin detection and analysis have been established, hardly any universally agreed “gold standards” are available. Generally, proficiency tests and certified reference materials for the mentioned toxins are lacking. In this context, the recent results of the first international proficiency test on the detection of one of the toxins provided highly relevant insights and a basis for further development.EQuATox will address these issues by creating a network of expert laboratories among EU 27 and associated countries, focussing on the detection of biological toxins and integrating experts from the security, verification, health and food sector.Four large EU-wide proficiency tests on the mentioned toxins will be organised with 27 laboratories from 20 countries worldwide so far being interested in participating and joining the network. The task will include the generation and characterisation of toxin reference materials which in the future can be further developed into ISO-compliant certified reference materials.Based on the status quo of toxin detection described in EQuATox, good practices and critical gaps in detection technology will be identified as foundation to harmonise and standardise detection capabilities. Furthermore, recommendations will be given on how to close these gaps and to minimise potential health and security risks for European citizens. Fields of science social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical transitionsterrorism Programme(s) FP7-SECURITY - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Security Topic(s) SEC-2011.5.4-1 - Towards standardisation of CBRN detection and identification Call for proposal FP7-SEC-2011-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CSA-CA - Coordination (or networking) actions Coordinator ROBERT KOCH-INSTITUT Address Nordufer 20 13353 Berlin Germany See on map Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Birgit Arnold, Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all JRC -JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE- EUROPEAN COMMISSION Belgium EU contribution € 102 789,55 Address Rue de la loi 200 1049 Bruxelles / brussel See on map Region Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Doris Florian (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data INSTITUT SCIENTIFIQUE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE Belgium EU contribution € 68 103,36 Address Rue juliette wytsman 14 1050 Bruxelles See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Wesley Van Dessel (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Finland EU contribution € 225 799,96 Address Yliopistonkatu 3 00014 Helsingin yliopisto See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Satu Väisänen (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data AGENCE NATIONALE DE LA SECURITE SANITAIRE DE L ALIMENTATION DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DU TRAVAIL France EU contribution € 135 620,36 Address 14 rue pierre et marie curie 94700 Maisons alfort See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Val-de-Marne Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Patrick Esclauze Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data TOXOGEN GMBH Germany EU contribution € 137 492,86 Address Feodor lynen strasse 35 30625 Hannover See on map Region Niedersachsen Hannover Region Hannover Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Andreas Rummel (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data TOTALFORSVARETS FORSKNINGSINSTITUT Sweden EU contribution € 195 374,51 Address Gullfossgatan 6 164 90 Stockholm See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Martin Nygren (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data EIDGENOSSISCHES DEPARTEMENT FUR VERTEIDIGUNG, BEVOLKERUNGSSCHUTZ UND SPORT Switzerland EU contribution € 37 554,86 Address Bundeshaus ost CH-3003 Bern See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Cédric Invernizzi (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data LUGINBUEHL WERNER Switzerland EU contribution € 51 794,42 Address See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Werner Luginbühl (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Other funding No data
