National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, Programming, Information and Risk Analysis
The National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, Programming, Information and Risk Analysis (COVEPI) provides high-value scientific services in the fields of epidemiological surveillance, risk assessment, and data analysis related to animal diseases, zoonotic infections, food contamination, and emerging phenomena, including those associated with antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
By Ministerial Decree of 2 November 1991, the Veterinary Operations Centre for Epidemiology, Planning, and Information (COVEPI) was officially recognised as a National Reference Centre. The Ministerial Decree of 18 June 2009 expanded its competencies, renaming it the National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, Planning, Information, and Risk Analysis.
The Centre's responsibilities include:
- Developing surveillance plans and operational protocols, analysing data, and disseminating results.
- Developing procedures for epidemiological analysis and surveillance activities.
- Creating models based on Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques and spatial analysis to support veterinary research and the design of surveillance and eradication plans.
- Developing information systems for data management and epidemiological analysis.
- Researching, developing, designing, implementing, and managing web-based Geographic Information Systems (web-GIS) for data visualisation, querying, and dissemination.
- Conducting risk assessments related to animal health, food safety, animal welfare, and laboratory safety.
- Providing training in veterinary epidemiology, statistics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at both national and international levels.
- Conducting research and experimentation on innovative spatial data analysis techniques and genomic profiling of pathogens.
COVEPI provides consultancy and services to international organisations such as WOAH, FAO, and WHO, to European Union institutions, to the Ministry of Health, and to regional and local veterinary services, Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali, non-healthcare institutions, and livestock and consumer associations.
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Documento in formato Adobe Acrobat D.M. del 22 ottobre 1991 "Riconoscimento, quale centro di referenza nazionale, del COVEPI presso l'Istituto zooprofilattico sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", in Teramo(217 KB)
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Paolo Calistri
Head
Paolo Calistri has been working at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise since 1995, where he currently serves as Head of the Epidemiology Laboratory and of the National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, Planning, Information and Risk Analysis (COVEPI). He is also interim Head of both the Epidemiology, Risk Analysis and Information Unit and the Sample Reception and Quality Control Unit.
Paolo Calistri has been working at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise since 1995, where he currently serves as Head of the Epidemiology Laboratory and of the National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, Planning, Information and Risk Analysis (COVEPI). He is also interim Head of both the Epidemiology, Risk Analysis and Information Unit and the Sample Reception and Quality Control Unit.
Since September 2018, he has been Head of the FAO Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology, and since March 2021, he has also been Head of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology, Modelling and Surveillance.
From 2015 to 2024, he served as a member of the Animal Health and Animal Welfare (AHAW) Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Paolo Calistri has taken part in numerous international research projects and initiatives focused on the prevention and control of animal diseases and zoonoses.
He is the author of over 130 scientific articles published in international journals.
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Epidemiology, Risk Analysis and Information
Go to the UnitA team of epidemiologists supporting the relevant offices of the Directorates-General of the Ministry of Health, regional authorities, and local health services in epidemiological analysis and risk assessment related to animal diseases, zoonoses, and food contamination (both biological and chemical). The team is also committed to developing, promoting, and disseminating new approaches and methodologies for risk assessment in the field of veterinary public health.