Center of excellence for Resaerch in Infectious diseases and ZoonoES in Indian Odean – CRIZES-IO

The international concept of One Health is essential for containing and controlling infectious diseases, particularly zoonoses, which account for over 75% of human microbial diseases. Réunion island and the South-Western Indian Ocean (SOOI) region are currently facing major epidemic threats. During 2005–2006, chikungunya affected more than 30% of Réunion’s population, and many patients continue to suffer long-term consequences. In August 2024, a resurgence of the same virus began, infecting more than 200,000 people. Other diseases such as leptospirosis and dengue fever have now become endemic, with increasing severity among populations already weakened by chronic conditions such as diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. Beyond the SOOI, similar patterns are emerging in the Mediterranean basin and continental Europe, where global environmental changes and large-scale human mobility are driving the spread of these diseases. In response, the University of La Réunion (UR) and its partners are launching a new project, with the overall objective of creating a Center of excellence for Research and innovation in Infectious diseases and ZoonosES in the Indian Ocean (CRIZES-IO). The project aims to strengthen the regional research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem in Réunion—Europe’s outpost in the Indian Ocean—enhancing pandemic preparedness and fostering collaborations between Africa, Europe, and Asia.The project is structured around three complementary specific objectives (SOs):
-SO1. Establish a Centre of Excellence. In line with the ambition of the AAP Teaming initiative, the goal is to establish an autonomous centre of excellence in infectious diseases, with full legal, administrative, operational, and academic capacity (research and training). The centre will be competitive, attractive to young researchers, and positioned to generate growth and socio-economic benefits for the SOOI region. Ensuring long-term sustainability beyond the Horizon Europe start-up grant is a key priority. A robust human resources strategy will also be implemented, incorporating gender equality and international best practices for high-level scientific cooperation.
- SO2:Advance Innovative Research. The project will develop and strengthen R&I capacities in emerging infectious diseases, with a focus on advanced diagnostics and innovative biotherapies. Collaboration with leading European and international research institutions will be expanded, alongside participation in competitive calls for joint projects at both European and global levels. CRIZES-IO will scale up research efforts in Réunion with the support of the Catholic Universities of Louvain and University of Antwerp, as well as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Local R&I capacity will also be leveraged through collaboration with national research organisations present on the island (CIRAD, CNRS, INSERM, IRD).
-SO3. Build a Resilient R&I Ecosystem. The COVID-19 crisis revealed critical weaknesses in institutional responses to pandemic emergencies. CRIZES-IO will address these gaps by building an ecosystem capable of rapid epidemic response, while strengthening local, national, regional, and international capacities for data production during both epidemic and inter-epidemic phases.