WSU School for Global Animal Health
Global leadership in infectious diseases at the animal-human interface
Introduction
Controlling infectious diseases at the animal-human interface is fundamental
to eliminating the impact of these diseases on human health and well-being. A
clarifying example of success is the prevention of human rabies through animal
vaccination. Yet the potential of disease control at the animal-human interface
has not been exploited and represents an unmet need in the fight for improved
global health.
Washington State University has developed internationally recognized programs in
infectious diseases uniquely focused on preventing transmission of animal
pathogens. We seek to transform these existing strengths into leadership in
solving global health challenges.
The School for Global Animal Health will complement infectious disease programs
at Washington State University and within the Puget Sound region, and will
enhance the leadership of the State of Washington in global health by providing
innovative strategies for treatment or eradication of diseases.
Mission
Provide innovative solutions to global infectious disease challenges through
research, education, global outreach, and application of disease control at the
animal-human interface. The School for Global Animal Health will advance
science, people, and policy to discover novel approaches for disease
intervention and delivery of preventive health care for animals and humans.
Key Elements
The WSU School for Global Animal Health initially will be composed of three
identifiable but overlapping components. These include research, graduate
education, and global outreach. Each of these components is briefly described
below.
ResearchThe research program will capitalize on the existing
strengths in infectious disease and vaccine discovery research at Washington
State University, and will broaden the base of research by strategic recruitment
of outstanding faculty with expertise in zoonotic pathogens. In addition, as
outlined below in the graduate education component, the School for Global Animal
Health will include a unique program of education and research in animal health
policy and metrics that will require recruitment of leaders in the field.
Research programs will focus on three interrelated approaches to global animal
and public health:
- Emerging pathogen and disease detection: Major emerging
infectious diseases in humans have originated in animal hosts, either
through direct transmission (such as SARS, West Nile Virus) or by mutations
that may result in a “species jump” (HIV, avian influenza H5N1). WSU is
currently identifying determinants of pathogen emergence that will allow
early intervention by healthcare organizations. The approach involves both
ongoing testing for emerging pathogens and elucidating common mechanisms
that will increase the ability to predict and respond to disease emergence.
- Control of disease transmission from animals to humans:
Zoonotic diseases (infections transmitted from animals to humans) account
for over 70% of human infectious diseases, with a disproportionate impact in
lesser developed countries. WSU is pursuing innovative solutions for the
prevention of zoonotic diseases through vaccination and other strategic
interventions in animal populations that reduce pathogen levels below
thresholds required for transmission. These approaches are directed for
cost-effective, efficacious control of globally important infectious
diseases.
- Vaccine development and deployment: Human health and
well-being in less developed countries are dependent on healthy livestock.
Tropical infectious diseases of livestock have been a neglected issue due to
their absence in the most developed countries. WSU is creating novel
vaccines for control of the major vector-borne diseases of livestock that
are a significant impediment to economic development in Africa, Asia, and
Central/South America.
Graduate EducationGraduate education
is a key element of the School for Global Animal Health with the goal of
expanding the cadre of animal health professionals in biomedical research and
public practice at the state, regional, national, and international levels. This
will represent a major expansion of the current graduate programs in the College
of Veterinary Medicine, building on and integrating with existing strong
programs as well as development of new strategic programs. An example of this
development will be a graduate education focus on the integration of science,
metrics, and animal health policy. Several tracks will be offered, but each
track will result in a core understanding of both the scientific process and the
principles of animal health policy formulation and implementation. Tracks will
differ in the degree of emphasis in each area, from traditional combined
residency and doctoral degrees with a primary laboratory medicine or
epidemiology emphasis, to programs focusing on field translation of novel
intervention strategies with an emphasis on animal health policy and metrics. It
is envisioned that half of the graduate student body will be international and
supported by extramural funding - a key component in strengthening the global
outreach component of the School.
Global OutreachDevelopment and application of disease
intervention strategies at the animal-human interface will require a strong
emphasis on global activities in the field. International outreach is also
critical to ensure that WSU is highly competitive for extramural global health
funding. Creating national and international partnerships will establish field
based programs that provide a “living laboratory” for research and graduate
education, and will facilitate the recruitment of the highest caliber students
to the program. Initial development of diagnostic capability and capacity in
developing countries is critical to establishing priorities for application of
disease intervention strategies and development of benchmarks for success.
Global health partners from international sites will be vital to achieving the
mission of the School, and will help coordinate field activities, including
delivery of novel methods of disease intervention and application of metrics to
measure the impact.
Organizational Structure and Faculty
The School for Global Animal Health will be a post-baccalaureate school
administered through the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), but will include,
as appropriate, faculty in other Washington State University Schools and
Colleges. In addition, Puget Sound partnerships with the Global Health Alliance
and the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine,
will provide a unique opportunity to integrate expertise around the animal-human
interface. A proposed plan for development of the School for Global Animal
Health has been an initial faculty of 20 with a five year recruitment plan of 8
new faculty with support staff and graduate students. Faculty lines will include
a cluster of three new faculty in infectious diseases and vaccine development,
one new faculty line that will focus on disease discovery and tracking, two new
faculty in animal health policy and metrics, and two faculty devoted to global
outreach.
Summary and Impact
The School for Global Animal Health will expand existing expertise in
infectious disease research, education and diagnostics into a sustainable
program to discover, develop and deploy innovative solutions to major infectious
diseases of animals that directly affect human health and economic development.
It will add a vital component to solidify the leadership of the State of
Washington in global health, and will transform current strengths at Washington
State University into preeminence in the control of infectious diseases at the
animal-human interface.
Malawi tribal region of Africa
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Last Edited: May 07, 2008 8:48 AM
