Climate Monitoring and Decision Support Framework for Sand Fly-borne Diseases Detection and Mitigation with COst-benefit and Climate-policy MeasureS

CLIMOS aims to assist mitigation of climate- and climate change-induced emergence, transmission and spread of vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens based on Eco-health and One Health approaches. This will be achieved by quantifying climate and environmental-related drivers of sand fly vector populations and the sand fly-borne diseases (SFBDs) across Europe. The project will provide an Early Warning System (EWS) and decision support frameworks for more accurate climate and health modelling, prognosis of infection risk and range expansions, and adaptation options. Socio-economic analysis and risk assessments will inform decision support providing social and cost-benefit evaluations. Towards these goals, an open access interactive CLIMOS online platform will be developed containing data on vector and SFBD species geography and up-to-date monitoring, climate, environment, and mathematical algorithms. The accompanying educational platform will enable evidence-based mitigation decision-making by social, environmental and financial stakeholders, public bodies and policy makers.

CLIMOS will generate science-based predictions, actions and policy-relevant recommendations to mitigate climate change-induced emergence and spread of SFBDs, by providing: precision vector and infection surveillance methods and networks across 14 countries; creation of big data time series (on vectors, disease, micro and macroclimate, environment and health, and on infection risk) to be available also for use at the EU Climate and Health Observatory, and as European Commission ISA JoinUP open-source tool for public and healthcare; new interoperability data ontologies (Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology [OBO] and Open Geospatial Consortium [OGC] for SFBDs and climate); new innovative technical solutions for vector monitoring (new trapping solution and EWS components); and at least 30 peer-reviewed open access publications, 3 policy reports, and diversity of public engagement materials.

Project CLIMOS is part of the European cluster on climate change and health.