Dear All,
Last week (18 April 2012), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in London announced a research call on molecular-based Campylobacter surveillance. Further information can be found at the following link :http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/apr/campycall. In this, approximately 6000 isolates will be collected from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland per annum for three years and typed using detailed molecular methods. It would be very helpful for the epidemiology of Campylobacter infection in humans on these islands to include the Island of Ireland (IoI) in the study design. I have since spoken to Dr Kathryn O'Callaghan at FSA to explore the potential for the entire IoI forming a geographical arm to this study. This will create issues of funding etc, but I believe inclusion of the IoI in this FSA study represent a crucial opportunity for everyone on this island. I therefore am seeking feedback from you via the Safefood Campy Network, as to whether we should attempt to write a proposal in which we join forces with an existing submission from the UK to include IoI as one of the geographical arms of the study design or seek an alternative entry into this tendering process. I propose that all interested individuals attend an exploratory meeting at Intertrade Ireland Offices, (kindly granted), at a mutually convenient time over the next few weeks to explore this further, so that we can all move forward together cohesively. Please let me have you views on this suggestion. John Moore, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital.
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