iCOMOS conference to explore science behind ‘One Health’ in complex environments

The University of Minnesota will present an international conference on the science behind One Health this spring in Minneapolis. The International Conference on One Medicine One Science (iCOMOS) will be a global forum to discuss groundbreaking science that addresses issues at the interface of animals, humans and the environment.

The One Health initiative recognizes that human, animal and ecosystem health are all linked and is designed to promote, improve, and defend the health and well-being of all species with increased collaborations between physicians, veterinarians and other scientific health and environmental professionals.

iCOMOS will take place Sunday, April 27-Wednesday, April 30, attracting presenters and participants in human health, veterinary medicine, public health, food policy, food production and food safety, infectious diseases, environmental health and agriculture.

Hosted by the University of Minnesota and its College of Veterinary Medicine, Academic Health Center and the Office of the Vice President for Research, in partnership with allied national and international agencies, the conference is designed to foster increased international collaboration addressing the threat of emerging and zoonotic diseases, food and water-borne pathogens, food systems and challenges in environmental health. The conference aims to foster greater engagement between health policy makers and scientists on issues of high importance to animal, human and environmental health.

iCOMOS will be held every two years and will focus on the most pressing issues related to infectious agents and chronic diseases at the nexus of veterinary, human health and the environment.

"In this global forum of keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops we will explore the science behind One Health in complex environments from molecular/cellular interactions to population health at the ecosystem level," said Srirama Rao, Ph.D., associate dean for research, professor and co-chair of the organizing committee at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

The conference will include presentations on infectious diseases, pathogen emergence at the animal-human-environment interface and the challenges in food production, food safety, animal welfare and antibiotic resistance.

iCOMOS features a number of notable speakers including:

• Peter Agre, M.D., Nobel Laureate, Director, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, and Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
• Mark Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer, Merck Vaccines, Merck & Co.
• David Morens, M.D., Senior Advisor to the Director, Office of the Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Samuel Thevasagayam, D.V.M., Deputy Director, Livestock, Agricultural Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Sonny Ramaswamy, Ph.D., Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Catherine Woteki, Ph.D., Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, US Department of Agriculture
• Andrew Zimmern, James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer and teacher

Conference registration is now underway. To register or review the conference schedule including complete list of speakers and workshops visit http://www.icomos.umn.edu.