Important communication (01/05/2024)
The call for applications for the position of National Reference Centres for Human Microbiology for 2025-2029 has officially closed. If application forms are still received, we will no longer be able to accept them. We thank you for your understanding.
Context
As described in the Royal Decree of 09/02/2011, a network of National Reference Centres (NRC) for Human Microbiology is established within Belgium and appointed for a duration of 5 years. The current convention period ends on the 31st of December 2024 and the call for applications for the next convention period (1st January 2025 — 31st December 2029) is opening on the 1st of March 2024. The network is funded by RIZIV-INAMI and coordinated by Sciensano in collaboration with the Medical Technical Advisory Board (MTAB). You can find more information regarding the current network of NRCs on the dedicated Sciensano web page.
If you have any questions, please contact us at nrchm@sciensano.be
List of pathogens requiring an NRC for 2025-2029
Below, you can find the list of 40 pathogens or groups of pathogens for which an NRC is foreseen during the upcoming convention period.
| ID | List of pathogen(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRO) |
| 2 | Arboviruses: West Nile virus, Dengue virus, Yellow Fever virus, Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus, Chikungunya virus, Zika virus |
| 3 | Bordetella pertussis |
| 4 | Borrelia spp., including Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia recurrentis |
| 5 | Brucella spp. |
| 6 | Burkholderia spp. and other non-fermenters (inert Gram-negative bacilli except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.) |
| 7 | Campylobacter spp. |
| 8 | Clostridioides difficile |
| 9 | Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium tetani |
| 10 | Congenital infections: Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Parvovirus B19 |
| 11 | Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella |
| 12 | Enterococci (MDRO) |
| 13 | Enterovirus, including polioviruses and parechoviruses |
| 14 | Haemophilus influenzae |
| 15 | Hantavirus |
| 16 | Helicobacter pylori |
| 17 | Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses |
| 18 | Antiviral resistance Herpesviridae |
| 19 | Human papillomavirus |
| 20 | Legionella pneumophila |
| 21 | Listeria monocytogenes |
| 22 | Measles, Mumps and Rubella viruses |
| 23 | Mycobacterium spp. |
| 24 | Mycosis |
| 25 | Neisseria meningitidis |
| 26 | Norovirus |
| 27 | Rabies virus |
| 28 | Respiratory pathogens: adenovirus, coronavirus including SARS, human parainfluenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), influenza virus |
| 29 | Rickettsia, Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) |
| 30 | Rotavirus |
| 31 | Salmonella/Shigella spp. |
| 32 | Staphylococcus aureus |
| 33 | Shiga-toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) |
| 34 | STI (Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium) and mpox |
| 35 | Streptococcus agalactiae |
| 36 | Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive |
| 37 | Streptococcus pyogenes and other beta-hemolytic streptococci non-group B (invasive) |
| 38 | Toxigenic corynebacteria |
| 39 | Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus |
| 40 | Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis |
Timeline
Documentation
Below, you can find all the necessary documentation in relation to the NRC call:
- Royal Decree of 09/02/2011 defining the network of NRCs (Only available in Dutch and French)
- Introduction letter
- Overview of the list of tasks for each NRC
Please note that the documents are susceptible to adjustments. In the exceptional case of modifications to the form during the call, all involved parties will be notified.
Financial source
