Dr. Branko Velebit, Science Communication Coordinator for the ONWARD Project, delivered a presentation at the 9th Workshop of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for Foodborne Viruses, organized by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Viruses and held on May 26–27, 2026 in Nantes.
The annual workshop gathered EU Commission-DG SANTE representative, experts and researchers from national reference laboratories from across Europe to discuss recent developments, analytical methods, surveillance strategies, and collaborative approaches related to foodborne viruses and public health protection.
During the event, Dr. Velebit presented the ONWARD project details, such as aims, current calls, joint EU strategy to tackle with emerging diseases, highlighting the importance of effective science communication in supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and public awareness in the field of food safety and viral surveillance.
The presentation emphasized ONWARD’s commitment to strengthening knowledge exchange between scientific communities, regulatory institutions, and the broader public through targeted communication strategies, digital outreach, and international cooperation initiatives.
The workshop provided an important platform for networking and scientific exchange among specialists working on emerging challenges related to foodborne viral pathogens, contributing to improved preparedness and harmonized approaches at the European level.
The ONWARD project continues to support innovation, collaboration, and communication excellence in advancing food safety research and public health resilience across Europe.
