Griffith University has brought together health leaders and researchers from across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen regional collaboration on emerging health threats and build a more coordinated approach to One Health.
The symposium, Future-Proofing One Health Action for Regional and Global Health Security: Challenges and Response Strategies for the Indo-Pacific in the Context of Climate Change, brought together public health leaders, researchers and experts from Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam.
Hosted by Griffith’s Centre for Environment and Population Health (CEPH) and the Queensland Hub of the HEAL Network, the two-day event explored how countries across the region can work together to prepare for and respond to emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases.
Zoonotic diseases – infections that can spread between animals and humans – account for an estimated 60-75 per cent of infectious diseases and are being amplified by factors including climate change and globalisation.
The One Health approach recognises that human health is closely connected to the health of animals and the environment, bringing together expertise across disciplines to address complex health challenges.
Professor Cordia Chu, Director of Griffith’s Centre for Environment and Population Health and Convenor of the Queensland Hub of the HEAL Network, said regional collaboration was critical to strengthening health security.
“The health challenges we face today do not stop at national borders or within a single discipline. One Health gives us an important framework for bringing together people, knowledge and resources to develop practical solutions that protect human health, animal health and the environment.”
Griffith Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Liz Burd welcomed delegates to the symposium, which was officially opened by Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale and Professor Cordia Chu AM, Director of CEPH and Convenor of the Queensland Hub of the HEAL Network.
Opening remarks were also delivered by symposium co-hosts and Professor Song Tie, Director General of the Administration for Disease Control, Guangdong Province, China.
Sharing research and regional experience
The symposium provided an opportunity for participating countries to share their experiences and priorities in addressing One Health challenges, while highlighting emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases and successful examples of research in action.
Presentations explored research and interventions including malaria elimination, mosquito-free villages, climate-sensitive disease prioritisation, dengue fever early-warning systems and strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change on workers’ health.
Speakers included Dr Rachel Chay from Biosecurity Queensland, Dr Hung Nguyen from the International Livestock Research Institute, Professor Datuk Dr Siti Hamisa from Malaysia and Dr Dicky Budiman, Head of Global Health Security and Disaster at Indonesia.
Three success stories were also presented by Professor Ricardo Magalhães from The University of Queensland, Professor Liu Qiyong from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Professor Gong Zhenyu from Zhejiang CDC.
A key focus of the symposium was the need to broaden One Health beyond its traditional emphasis on human and animal health to better incorporate environmental considerations.
Experts explored how ecological and environmental management can reduce health risks while improving livelihoods, with discussions spanning climate change, soil health, engineering and ecological interventions.
Contributors included Professor Cunrui Huang from Tsinghua University, Distinguished Professor Chengrong Chen from Griffith University and Professor He Bin from Ningbo University.
Harnessing technology for better health outcomes
Emerging technologies were another focus, with researchers examining how artificial intelligence can be safely, ethically and effectively incorporated into One Health approaches.
Griffith experts Professor Alan Wee-Chung Liew and Professor Dian Tjondronegoro joined Professor Wang Shenyu from the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Professor Xiao Jiangpeng from the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.
The symposium also highlighted the importance of effective science communication in connecting researchers and disciplines with governments, practitioners and communities.
Building an enduring regional network
The symposium’s second day moved from discussion to action, with delegates participating in a workshop focused on identifying opportunities for coordinated One Health action on shared regional health challenges.
The workshop established a roadmap for continued collaboration across the ASEAN region, with participating organisations agreeing to work together on a special journal issue based on the symposium, develop training and science communication resources, and deliver capacity-building workshops.
The partners also agreed to formalise a new ASEAN network to support ongoing One Health research, knowledge exchange and action across the region.
The initiative reflects the growing importance of regional partnerships in addressing health threats that cross borders – and the role of interdisciplinary research in building healthier, more resilient communities across the Indo-Pacific.
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