CODA

The CODA has been involved in diagnosis and prophylaxis of animal diseases since 1930. The Section Development of Diagnostic Tools for Epizootic Diseases is the National Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, vesicular stomatitis, bluetongue, sheep- and goat pox and Lumpy skin disease. The section is highly involved in FAO EUFMD activities (missions, organising workshops on FMD diagnostics) and participated in several EU research projects. The laboratory is a well-equipped unit with high-bio-security level L3+ and facilities for viral culture, biotechnology and immunology techniques. In the field of FMD the laboratory has experience of dealing with large-scale serology and viral diagnosis and has research experience in development of molecular diagnostic assays.

Dr. Kris De Clercq

Leader for project workpackage on diagnostic tests.
Contract Manager for the CODA. Doctor in Veterinary Medicine. Master of Science in Animal Production, University of Gent. Head of the Section of Development of Diagnostic Tools for Epizootic Diseases. Chairman of the FAO Research group of the Standing Technical Committee of the FAO European Commission for the Control of FMD. Member of several EU and OIE Scientific working-groups. Member of the Board of the Society for Epidemiology and Economics. Author of several scientific publications.

Ms. Nesya Goris

Scientific Assistant. Biologist graduated in 2002 at the University of Leuven. Currently working on sequencing, PCR, Ag profiling of all FMDV strains at the CODA, section Development of Diagnostic Tools for Epizootic Diseases. Is currently employed by the institute (CODA) until September 30th, 2005. Will be engaged by the FMD_ImproCon project on October 1st, 2005 until the end of the project.