SSI to Be Designated as the European Union Reference Laboratory for Respiratory Viruses

As part of a strong consortium of European institutions, SSI recently applied to be designated as the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Public Health in the field of Respiratory Viruses (EURL-RESVIR). We are excited to share that we have been selected to proceed with negotiations with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). This EURL will further strengthen the European collaboration and capacity building within this field.

Lab equipment

In May 2025, the European Commission (EC) released a call for applications for the EURL in the field of respiratory viruses. EURLs in the area of public health provide support to the European network of national reference laboratories (NRLs). A consortium of eight institutions submitted an application to be designated as EURL-RESVIR. The consortium partners are:

  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
  • Erasmus Medical Center-Viroscience (EMC), Netherlands (coordinator)
  • Institut Pasteur (IP), France
  • National Institute of Health Institute Doctorutor Dr Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Portugal
  • National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands
  • Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany
  • Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Denmark

The submitted application was favourably reviewed by members of the EC, the ECDC, and independent external experts. This consortium will now enter the next phase of designation an EURL.

EURL-RESVIR will promote cross-border coordination, provide technical assistance and reference services to NRLs, organize external quality assessments, and promote and facilitate collaboration and research. Additionally, EURL-RESVIR will support and provide scientific advice to ECDC and the EC during (emerging) respiratory virus outbreaks. EURL-RESVIR will ultimately enhance Europe’s capacity to identify and manage respiratory viral pathogens.

Press contacts Contact Statens Serum Institut’s press department at telephone number +45 2260 1123 or e-mail presse@ssi.dk

Press contacts

Contact Statens Serum Institut’s press department at telephone number +45 2260 1123 or e-mail presse@ssi.dk