One Health Institute | University of Guelph

NEWS FLASH

One Health Research and Poster Day is a chance to learn about One Health at the University of Guelph!

Attendees will hear about One Health research from both students and faculty. Current students from the Bachelor of One Health program, and alumni of the Collaborative Specialization in One Health graduate program, will speak about their experiences and career opportunities. The highlight of the day is the poster session featuring student research, and two-minute ‘so what?’ research presentations where students place their work in the wider One Health context. Plenty of opportunities for networking and learning about ways to get involved with One Health at Guelph!

This half-day event is open to all. You do not need to be enrolled in a One Health program to attend. Registration is encouraged to help mitigate food waste.

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Newsletter Archives: The biweekly One Health Newsletter provides information on One Health news and events here at the University of Guelph and other relevant institutions.
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One Health research in action at the University of Guelph

Rural Empowerment

Implementing sustainable agricultural practices is particularly important for improving food security and farmer livelihoods in the rural Honduran hillsides. Nearly 30 years of a participatory research program, initiated by Dr. Sally Humphries, has resulted in farmers learning how to maximize the productivity of their land and improve soil health, while it has also enriched gender equality by empowering women and youth to be involved in decision-making processes. True to the One Health approach, this one-of-a-kind research program has been driven by Honduran farmers, agronomists, and scientists, in a way that has mutually benefitted them all.

A parent horse and their child out in a field

Reducing Consumer Risk

Sporadic outbreaks of exotic vector-borne diseases in the British horse industry can have significant health and economic consequences. By interviewing equine veterinarians, a multidisciplinary team explored the barriers, opportunities, and attitudes toward exotic disease preparedness in Great Britain. Dr. Kelsey Spence of the Ontario Veterinary College is part of the team with other researchers from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Exploring Policy

Governments play an important role in shaping human health due to their influence in social and political environments. Through a case study on micronutrient malnutrition in Indonesia, Dr. Carmen Ho of the Department of Political Science investigated what motivates governments to implement “benevolent policies”.

WHAT IS ONE HEALTH?

Today’s complex health issues – infectious diseases, food safety, antimicrobial resistance – provide increasing evidence that human, plant and animal, and environmental health are connected in more ways than we ever imagined. So much so, that global examples abound of disruptions in one species or ecosystem reverberating throughout the rest of the “system,” even half a world away. And that socio-economic conditions are often pivotal in the extent of disruptions and recovery in the affected communities.

One Health is the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working together on our planet’s most complex animal, human and environmental health problems.

ONE HEALTH and the UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

The University of Guelph is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top research-intensive, comprehensive universities. And the Ontario Veterinary College is among the five best in the world.

One Health is not new to the U of G. With its roots in veterinary medicine and food production, researchers here have long understood the close relationship between the health of plants, animals, people and the land that supported them.

Today we are developing transdisciplinary graduates with the unique skills to effectively address complex health issues using a One Health approach. The One Health Institute was established in 2018 to provide focus and support to One Health initiatives in all seven colleges across campus.

Guelph researchers are using a One Health approach to tackle many of the most pressing health issues of our time including:

zoonotic diseases
diseases with pandemic potential (e.g., COVID-19)
community-based research on water quality
poverty and food security in subsistence economies
antimicrobial resistance in Canada and abroad

climate change and the spread of vector-borne disease
pollinator health
effects of pet ownership on human wellbeing
clinical trials in comparative oncology
informatics and disease modelling

For more examples of One Health research, teaching and building a Community of Practice at the University of Guelph, please go to The One Health Institute’s 2021 report.

News

Learn about how faculty and students incorporate

One Health into their research and studies

Faculty Focus

Student Spotlight

Events

Learn about upcoming One Health events at U of G… and beyond!

Fall ’24 Seminar Series

A background graphic containing stationary items like, protractor, pencil, bag, blackoard etc

Are you a Student Interested in One Health?

Check out these resources below

UofG Student Resources

Consider applying for a One Health Research Grant
Become a member of our One Health Student Committee
One Health Coffee House
Scholarships

Other Student Resources

Club Map listing student groups around the world
Spreadsheet listing student groups around the world
Toolkit on how to start a One Health club and activities to do as a club
- Includes info on Smithsonian Outbreak exhibit materials and virtual tour
- Includes info on teaching One Health lessons to children
Revamped toolkit with graphics
Information on starting and running a OH conference here and this link