University of Sydney and PHFI launch joint One Health program to combat global health issues

New Delhi: The University of Sydney and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) have unveiled a new joint initiative aimed at addressing pressing global health challenges. Announced on September 7, 2024, in New Delhi, this collaboration will focus on critical issues such as antibiotic resistance and emerging infectious diseases. 

The University of Sydney has committed AU$100,000 to this initiative, marking an expansion of their 15-year partnership, which previously centered on training public health professionals.

The newly funded program will address four key areas: disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, innovation including vaccine development, and ongoing training for the next generation of health professionals. The agreement was formalized by Professor Antoine van Oijen, Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health, and PHFI President Sanjay Zodpey.

During the launch event, researchers from the University’s Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute visited India to explore potential One Health initiatives. These programs aim to integrate human, environmental, and animal health considerations. Discussions involved representatives from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Investment New South Wales, as well as Indian institutions such as the Indian Council of Medical Research, India’s Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organization’s India Country Office, IIT Delhi, and PATH.

Associate Professor Shailendra Sawleshwarkar of the University, who has been affiliated with PHFI since 2009, highlighted the collaborative approach that brings together diverse expertise in engineering, medicine, veterinary science, and research to tackle public health challenges. 

The University of Sydney’s delegation, which met with PHFI counterparts to discuss potential collaborations, included Professor Jamie Triccas, a specialist in vaccine development; Associate Professor Navneet Dhand, director of APCOVE focused on veterinary training; Dr. Jocelyne Basseal, Associate Director at the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute; Associate Professor Shailendra Sawleshwarkar, an expert in HIV, STIs, and sexual health; Associate Professor Victoria Brookes, an infectious disease epidemiologist; Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski, a nanomedicine researcher; Dr. Carola Venturini, an expert in antimicrobial resistance in animals; and Dr. John-Sebastian Eden, a virologist studying virus evolution.

Professor van Oijen emphasized, “Our expertise on the use of antibiotics in animals to pathogen genomics, One Health surveillance and the development of novel vaccines to treat increasingly prevalent diseases like Japanese encephalitis, are all highly complementary with the depth of public health experience at the Public Health Foundation of India.”

Professor Zodpey emphasized that this expanded partnership promises to leverage the strengths of both organizations and their countries, aiming to establish a globally significant collaboration.