Menu Close
Close
Join Us
COST ACTION ONWARD

Aims

Complex challenges like hepatitis E and other zoonotic hepeviruses can only be addressed through collaboration across disciplines, from human and animal health to food safety, environmental science, and public health. This integrated, One Health perspective is essential for turning scientific knowledge into real-world impact.

This vision underpins ONWARD – the One Health zoonotic Hepevirus Network, a European COST Action (CA24140) approved in 2025. ONWARD brings together experts from across Europe to create the first dedicated platform for zoonotic hepeviruses (HEV and ratHEV), strengthening collaboration in diagnostics, surveillance, clinical management, prevention, and communication across human, animal, food, and environmental health sectors.

What makes ONWARD unique is its strong multidisciplinary foundation and its commitment to empowering early-career researchers as active contributors and leaders. Open, inclusive, and collaborative by design, ONWARD is more than a research network—it is a growing community working together to transform knowledge into action for improved public and animal health across Europe and beyond.

Zoonotic hepeviruses, including Paslahepevirus (HEV) and Rocahepevirus (RVHE), pose a significant and under-addressed threat to public health worldwide. Despite HEV being the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in Europe, a critical gap exists in standardized control measures. These viruses are not consistently recognized as notifiable diseases at either the animal or human level, nor are their control efforts overseen by EU or national governmental bodies. This deficiency is compounded by the absence of a unified European surveillance framework for animals and humans, harmonized molecular diagnostic protocols, and approved treatments or vaccines for HEV and RVHE.

Consequently, the foremost challenge is to effectively control the dissemination of zoonotic hepeviruses through improved understanding of their transmission dynamics and the implementation of targeted public health interventions.The ONWARD initiative directly confronts this challenge by establishing an interdisciplinary expert network. By promoting an integrated understanding of hepeviruses and their public health impact, the initiative seeks to strengthen disease management and prevention capacities across Europe.

The ONWARD Action network will strategically address these critical areas by

  • Adopting a One Health approach: This comprehensive framework will evaluate zoonotic hepeviruses, recognizing the interconnectedness of human and animal health.
  • Enhancing data sharing: The network will actively promote and facilitate the exchange of research data pertaining to HEV and RVHE.
  • Promoting screening and surveillance: ONWARD will advocate for the implementation of robust screening and surveillance programs for zoonotic hepeviruses.
  • Fostering clinical and therapeutic evaluation: The network will encourage and support the assessment of various clinical and therapeutic approaches to hepevirus infections.
  • Advancing control measures: ONWARD will lead efforts to implement effective control measures spanning farm-level practices and the food chain.
  • Establishing policy engagement: The network will position itself as a key liaison and influential voice for European health policy-makers regarding hepevirus control.

Reflecting its integrated One Health approach, the network brings together a diverse community of hepevirus experts. This multidisciplinary consortium encompasses virologists, clinical microbiologists, animal health and food safety researchers, veterinary practitioners, epidemiologists and public health specialists, medical doctors, and innovators in diagnostic and preventive tools. Through this collaborative structure, the network is positioned to generate comprehensive insights and to develop effective, evidence-based solutions to address the hepevirus challenge in Europe.