Epidemiological Platform for Animal Health Intelligence and Collaboration in the ADRIAtic (EPIC-ADRIA-HUB)
General objective
The main goal of EPIC-ADRIA-HUB is to transform the Croatian Veterinary Institute (CVI) into a leading regional hub for animal health intelligence by building and institutionalizing capacity in quantitative epidemiology, strengthening surveillance evaluation and data-informed decision support, and developing and embedding research management functions through strategic twinning with SVA and IZSAM.
Specific objectives
For each objective, three SMART KPIs are listed below; additional KPIs and detailed quantification are provided in the work plan, tasks and deliverables (“Methods/Implementation”).
1) Strengthen quantitative epidemiology capacity across CVI staff and institutionalise it in the new Epidemiology Division. Capacity will be built through expert support, staff exchanges/visits, progressive training, and joint work with coaching and review. The Division will be organised around an Epidemiology Lead and designated focal points with responsibility for routine analysis, priority-event support, and internal uptake. Advanced placements/exchanges will focus on methods most relevant to operational needs, including risk assessment, spatial/GIS analysis, predictive modelling and genomic epidemiology, and will follow two pathways: publication-oriented analyses and skills transfer/training support. KPIs: By M12: 3 core training workshops delivered. By M33: 12 placements/exchanges completed, with 6 expected to contribute to manuscript pipelines and 6 focused on skills transfer and training support. By M36: CVI Epidemiology Division formally established.
2) Assess surveillance and health information system performance for ASF and Echinococcus multilocularis and translate the findings into decision-ready evidence. Using recognised frameworks (RISKSUR EVA/Survtools and PRISM), the project will generate comparable findings across key laboratory and reporting pathways and convert them into prioritised improvement options and concise evidence products for dialogue with competent authorities and other end users. The objective also includes FAIR-aligned documentation and linkage foundations for repeatable analysis, and an organisational AI readiness baseline to clarify prerequisites for responsible adoption. KPIs: By M6: evaluation blueprint and implementation toolkit delivered. By M12: two evaluation cycles completed (ASF and Echinococcus multilocularis). By M18: FAIR baseline, linkage foundations and AI readiness baseline delivered.
3) Strengthen CVI research support services (RM Comp-aligned) so proposal development and project delivery are repeatable, timely and well documented. This will be achieved through targeted training, structured routines, shared tools, and hands-on involvement in the project’s research component so support services build practical competence while contributing to real outputs. The objective includes job shadowing and observational visits to two partner institutes to adapt workable operating models to CVI. It will also establish and embed key roles, including research management and a data steward/scientist function supporting documentation, traceability and DMP coordination. KPIs: By M4: a functioning research support services set-up is in place (team roles agreed, routine check-ins established, and ownership for DMP inputs/updates assigned). By M6: a shared project documentation and traceability routine is in active use (register for key project artefacts, agreed naming/version rules, and links recorded between analyses/outputs and the deliverables they support). By M36: a reusable research support services toolkit that can be applied to any new call for proposals and post-project plan are in place (key templates and routines consolidated and a realistic plan agreed for sustaining research support services).
4) Strengthen engagement with external stakeholders and uptake of research and project outputs in practice, and extend shared learning through an open, opt-in regional offer. This will involve national veterinary authorities, professional communities, smallholders and industry actors through practice-oriented materials, workshops and findings-to-end-users sessions. Selected activities will be opened to neighbouring Southeast European countries to support regional knowledge transfer. Feedback from these activities will be used to refine outputs and improve their applicability in decision-making and operational contexts. KPIs: By M24: at least 2 stakeholder workshops implemented and at least 2 types of practice-oriented materials developed.. By M28: 4 findings-to-end-users sessions delivered, and stakeholders from at least 3 Southeast European countries engaged in capacity building workshops. By M30: at least 2 guidance materials tested and refined through feedback sessions.