The COMBIVET project, hosted at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, brought significant progress in advancing comparative medicine and One Health research. To support the integration of the ERA Chair initiative, structural changes were made within the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, and a dedicated Steering Committee was appointed by the EMU Rector. Biweekly management meetings with administrative and research staff ensured smooth coordination. Professor Alireza Fazeli was appointed as the ERA Chair holder to lead the project’s scientific direction.
Despite strong recruitment efforts, international hiring was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Five rounds of job advertisements were conducted, and while some positions remained open, recruitment continued, supported by the involvement of experienced specialists to meet project goals.
The ERA Chair team defined four thematic areas for its research and training activities: host–pathogen interactions and disease biomarkers, infertility and subfertility, non-communicable diseases and cancer, and the intersection of food, feed and health. These themes guided the project’s focus across research, infrastructure, training, and knowledge-sharing activities.
Throughout the project, the team engaged in numerous professional development initiatives including conferences, workshops, training schools, and guest lectures. Six PhD students were recruited directly to the COMBIVET programme, with six more supervised by the project team, contributing to a total of twelve new PhD researchers in related fields. Their projects reflected COMBIVET’s core themes and added valuable depth to the programme’s scientific scope.
Scientific outputs were actively shared, with 33 open-access articles published and regular participation in conferences and seminars. A dedicated website (www.combivet.ee) supported wider dissemination. During the pandemic, virtual meetings and events replaced in-person gatherings, enhancing the team’s capacity for digital outreach, including online guest lectures and international workshops.
The team organised four research schools in Tartu, as well as 55 public seminars and seven conferences or symposia. To engage the wider public, COMBIVET participated in the Arvamus Festival, ran hands-on workshops for both adults and children, and collaborated with the AHHAA Science Centre to promote scientific literacy and dialogue.
An internal ethics strategy was developed, along with the formation of an ethics committee and appointment of mentors. Public dialogue was encouraged through a panel discussion titled “Ethical Dilemmas: Expanding Gap Between Science and Legal Frameworks,” connecting researchers with societal perspectives.
Efforts were also made to engage stakeholders beyond academia. More than 20 meetings with national and international industry representatives were held, and two sessions with policymakers created space for dialogue between the public and private sectors. Research collaborations were established with companies such as ConceptEasy, Chemi-Pharm, Grüne Fee, Dimedium, Particle Metrix, and Mo Saaremaa.
In parallel, the ERA Chair team submitted national and international grant proposals worth over €40 million, including applications under Horizon Europe. Collaborations were strengthened with leading institutions including the University of Tartu, University of Helsinki, University of Milan, and the Polish Academy of Sciences.
