Successful Completion of the First Training Course of the EURL-PH-ERZV Consortium on Next-Generation Sequencing for Emerging Zoonotic Viruses
Training on Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics, Rome, 29–31 October 2025.
Hosted by the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS (INMI), this course marked the first training activity within the EURL-PH-ERZV consortium.
The course, titled “Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics”, took place at INMI and brought together six researchers from national reference laboratories across Europe – including Romania, Cyprus, Ireland, Norway and France.
Training activities were delivered by researchers from INMI, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Tuscia and consortium partners from the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the Institut Pasteur and the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy of Budapest.
With focus on emerging viruses such as mpox, lyssaviruses and filoviruses, the programme included both theoretical modules and practical sessions, structured into molecular laboratory activities (wet lab) and bioinformatics analysis activities (dry lab).
As the first operational activity of the EURL-PH-ERZV consortium, the course supports efforts to strengthen diagnostic and response capacities across Europe through the sharing and harmonisation of advanced approaches for the identification and surveillance of emerging zoonotic viral pathogens.
Information about the opening of applications for the 2026 training will be announced through the EURL-PH-ERZV communication channels.
Group picture. Photo: Sebastiano Borzellino (INMI).
From left, up: Fabrizio Maggi, Enrico Girardi, Giovanni Chillemi, Cesare Ernesto Maria Gruber, Fabrizio Carletti, Said Mougari, Mads Bengtsen, Flavia Smoquina, Lavinia Fabeni, Alessandra Nappo, Ani Ioana Cotar, Vasiliki Christodoulou, Weronika Banka. From left, down: Flaviano Sarrantonio, Silvia Meschi, Francesca Colavita, Eliana Specchiarello, Martina Rueca, Raluca Gatej.
Practical session with hands-on training in NGS library preparation. Photo: Sebastiano Borzellino (INMI).
