ISTITUTO ZOOPROFILATTICO SPERIMENTALE DELLA LOMBARDIA E DELL'EMILIA ROMAGNA BRUNO UBERTINI

Their core work

IZSLER (as it is commonly known) is an Italian public veterinary research institute specializing in animal health, zoonotic disease surveillance, and food safety. They operate diagnostic laboratories, conduct epidemiological research on diseases that cross the animal-human boundary, and contribute reference diagnostic methods and biological materials used across Europe. Their core value is translating frontline veterinary surveillance data into public health policy and outbreak response tools — including gold standard reagents, diagnostic protocols, and vaccine research for high-priority animal pathogens.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 work (2018 onward), IZSLER focused on broad One Health surveillance infrastructure — epidemiology, microbiology, parasitology, and prevention programmes for foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance. As their portfolio matured, the focus sharpened toward specific high-priority pathogens (African Swine Fever, Lumpy Skin Disease) and critical response infrastructure such as virus collections and gold standard diagnostic products. The trajectory shows a shift from broad surveillance methodology toward specific outbreak preparedness and biological reference tools — suggesting they are becoming more specialized as an emergency-readiness and reference laboratory resource.

IZSLER is moving toward a role as a European reference institution for high-threat animal pathogens, making them a strong partner for projects focused on disease preparedness, diagnostic standardization, or biological material access.

How they like to work

IZSLER participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have not led any H2020 project — suggesting they contribute specialist laboratory and surveillance capabilities rather than driving project strategy. Their 99 unique consortium partners across 40 countries indicates they operate comfortably within large, multinational research networks. This makes them a reliable specialist node rather than a project coordinator, well-suited for consortia that need a credible, public veterinary institute with diagnostic and reference laboratory functions.

IZSLER has collaborated with 99 unique partners across 40 countries despite only three H2020 projects, reflecting participation in large pan-European research networks. Their geographic reach is genuinely global, particularly through EVA-GLOBAL which spans institutions across multiple continents.

What sets them apart

IZSLER is one of Italy's national reference laboratories for animal disease diagnostics, giving it a dual role as both a research institution and an official veterinary authority — a combination that adds regulatory credibility to its scientific contributions. Unlike university research groups, it operates permanent diagnostic and surveillance infrastructure that feeds real-time data into EU food safety and animal health systems. For consortium builders, this means IZSLER brings not just research expertise but access to validated biological reference materials, active disease monitoring networks, and regulatory recognition across EU member states.

Highlights from their portfolio

• One Health EJP
  The largest project by funding (EUR 418,037) and longest duration (2018–2023), embedding IZSLER in Europe's flagship joint programme linking human, animal, and environmental health surveillance.
• EVA-GLOBAL
  Positions IZSLER within the European Virus Archive — a critical global infrastructure for virus reference collections and outbreak response materials, signalling a role beyond routine diagnostics.
• DEFEND
  Targeted African Swine Fever and Lumpy Skin Disease simultaneously — two of Europe's highest-priority transboundary animal disease threats — combining epidemiology, vaccine research, and multi-sector response.