Navigating BCOMING: A Journey Through Annual Milestones and Collaborative Endeavors

Dear BCOMING Community,?

We're thrilled to share an update on the remarkable journey of the BCOMING project as we enter our second year of impactful research and collaboration. The past year has been filled with exciting developments, and we're eager to keep you in the loop!?

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Annual Meeting Highlights: ?

Our annual meeting proved to be a pivotal moment for the BCOMING project. Gathering minds from diverse backgrounds and expertise, the meeting served as a platform for discussions, knowledge exchange, and collaborative planning.?

The three-day event in Antwerp, Belgium, included insightful presentations and interactive sessions between the different BCOMING partners and even our sister project, BEPREP. From biodiversity and health discussions to field data presentations, the meeting provided a holistic view of BCOMING's progress and future directions.?

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Key Discussions and Outcomes:?

Fieldwork in Full Swing: With fieldwork underway in Cambodia, Guinea, Guadeloupe, and Ivory Coast, our teams are actively collecting biological samples from animals and water sources. This critical groundwork sets the stage for understanding the intricate connections between biodiversity and disease dynamics.?

Knowledge-Sharing Workshops: Five participatory workshops have taken place in our biodiversity hotspots, involving local stakeholders to emphasize awareness, exchange knowledge, create community-based surveillance, and develop sustainable and actionable plans. These gatherings have laid the groundwork for scientific testing, socio-economic surveys, and future modeling.?

Human-Wildlife Interactions: A central theme of our discussions was understanding the impact of human activities on biodiversity and the potential risks of disease emergence. The meeting fostered a deepened comprehension of the delicate balance between human and wildlife habitats thanks to the exchange of results, methods, and best practices, as well as the exploration of potential synergies with BEPREP.?

Cross-Collaboration: The interdisciplinary nature of our project came to life as experts in ecology, epidemiology, and related fields collaborated to unravel the complexities of our chosen hotspots. This cross-pollination of ideas is key to our success.?

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Next Steps: Building on Progress?

As we reflect on the achievements of our first year, we're excited about the path ahead. Here's a glimpse of our next steps:?

Data Analysis and Synthesis: With valuable data already collected, our fieldwork missions continue, with the next one taking place in Cambodia on the month of December. At the same time, we now enter the crucial phase of analysis and synthesis. This will form the foundation for our scientific contributions and recommendations.?

Publication and Dissemination: Sharing our findings with the global community is a priority. We're gearing up for publications and dissemination activities to ensure our insights reach those who can benefit from them.?

Community Engagement: As evidenced by the participatory learning process (CHaRL) used in our knowledge transfer workshops, strengthening our ties with local communities in our research areas is essential to achieve effective and sustainable results. Our commitment to community engagement remains steadfast, ensuring our work aligns with the needs and perspectives of those directly impacted. ?

6th Workshop in Guadeloupe: December will see the hosting of our 6th workshop in Guadeloupe, furthering community engagement and knowledge exchange.?

International Collaboration: BCOMING is not just a project; it's a global collaborative effort. As we thrive on international partnerships, let's go over the status of our sister and related projects and initiatives:?

1. BEPREP (Biodiversity and Epidemic Prevention): Collaborating closely with BEPREP, we're jointly committed to preventing future epidemics and pandemics. You can join our insightful conversations discussing the synergies between BEPREP and BCOMING in our interview videos here.?
2. IDAlert : In harmony with IDAlert, we contribute to developing tailored tools for key stakeholders, enhancing anticipation, forecasting, and understanding of future disease risks. Check out our collaborative efforts in the joint World Health Day campaign earlier this year here.?
3. PREZODE (International One Health Initiative): Our collaboration with PREZODE transcends borders, contributing to a global initiative for a safer future. PREZODE coordinates diverse projects and programs aiming to reduce the risk of zoonotic infectious diseases. Check out our World Zoonoses Day joint social media campaign here.?
4. CLIMOS Project : In tandem with the CLIMOS project, we collaborate on mitigating zoonotic pathogens induced by climate change, aligning with our One Health approach. Explore our joint campaign for World Environment Day with BEPREP and TRIGGER EU Project , yet another valuable Horizon Europe project focused on developing multi-disciplinary investigations to identify and gather in-depth knowledge on the relationship between climate, health and ecosystems, here.?

These collaborations signify our commitment to fostering a collective approach, pooling wisdom, and collectively contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future.?

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Gratitude and Looking Forward:?

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team, collaborators, and supporters. Your contributions have been instrumental in making BCOMING's first year a success. As we embark on the next phase, we invite you to stay connected, share your insights, and join us on this journey toward a healthier, more harmonious planet.?

Here's to many more years of impactful research and positive change!