Novel tools for test evaluation and disease prevalence estimation

CA18208 HARMONY

General Data

Member of UL	Veterinary Faculty
Name of the leading partner
Status	partner
Project code/ Projet No.	CA18208 HARMONY
Project Title	Novel tools for test evaluation and disease prevalence estimation
Financier	The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
Project period	25. 10. 2019 – 24. 10. 2023
Yearly sum of FTE	/
Leader	Tanja Knific (Management Committee member), Matjaž Ocepek (Management Committee substitute)
Scientific field	Veterinarian medicine
Partners	https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18208/#tabs\|Name:parties https://harmony-net.eu/structure/management-committee/

Project Phases

Project Description

Epidemiological studies to assess disease prevalence are critical for the identification and control of human and animal pathogens. In doing so, we encounter two limitations, namely the imperfect reliability of diagnostic methods and the fact that sampling and testing strategies are usually not standardized, i.e. they differ from country to country. Both limitations make a direct comparison of results impossible and thus underline the need for harmonization, which has already been recognized by institutions such as the ECDC and EFSA.

The aim of this project is to coordinate and promote the implementation of Bayesian Latent Class Models (BLCM). BLCM are statistical methods that allow comparison of pathogen prevalence estimates despite the limitations mentioned above. The number of research studies and scientific reports using them is limited, so the main objective of this project is to transfer knowledge and networking between BLCM experts and researchers working in statistics, epidemiology, diagnostics and population health.

Our aim in this project is to introduce BLCM methods into the field of veterinary epidemiology. We want to ensure that the results of studies on the prevalence of pathogens in Slovenia are at the highest level with the knowledge currently available.

https://harmony-net.eu/