ONE HEALTH (integrated approach to health focused on interactions between animals, humans and the environment)

ONE HEALTH (integrated approach to health focused on interactions between animals, humans and the environment)

LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

The One Health concept recognizes that human health, animal health and ecosystem health are inextricably linked. Although awareness on the importance of this concept is increasing,  the promotion  of One Health research and implementation of the concept in national health services are lacking behind. One Health research calls for a close collaboration of physicians, veterinarians, biologists and environmental sciences professionals. When properly implemented it will allow to accelerate biomedical research discoveries, enhance public health efficacy, expeditiously expand the scientific knowledge base and improve medical education and clinical care.

    This doctoral curriculum offers thesis research training on various human and animal health topics from a One Health perspective.  Research on infectious and parasitic diseases, diagnostics and clinical issues, nutrition and food safety and public health and health delivery systems, is addressed by a multi-disciplinary faculty of biologists, physicians and veterinarians specialized in various fields.

Malaria researchers explore novel tools that can interfere with the transmission of the parasite from the human host to the mosquito vector. Currently studies are conducted on bacterial and yeast symbionts of mosquitoes with the aim of genetically modify microbial strains to express anti-malarial compounds targeted to the parasite stages developing in the vector. Several compounds produced by selected symbionts have revealed anti-plasmodial activity in laboratory tests. Semifield studies, in progress in Burkina Faso, will allow to assess the feasibility of this approach as a novel malaria vector control tool. Chemical analysis and biological characterization of anti-malarial plant extracts has revealed several molecules with transmission blocking effects acting on various parasite stages and the vector itself. In particular, the medicinal plant Azadirachta indica was found to contain various bioactive limonoids which inhibit early sporogonic development of the parasite in the mosquito.

The One Health veterinary oriented program emphasizes working across public health and veterinary disciplines, in order to tackle emerging and “old” health problems more effectively applying an innovative, integrated approach. The program aims to fill the gap between various areas of animal and human health (e.g. clinical issue, infectious disease, diagnostic, pathology, food inspection, hygiene, animal breeding) by promoting multidisciplinary research to improve the health and the well being of all species. Doctoral candidates will be guided to work on the basis of the One Health concept and to expand interdisciplinary collaborations in all aspects of health care regarding humans, animals and the environment. Raising awareness on the importance of the One Health concept is a key objective of the doctoral training and professional career development of the young veterinarians.  

 

Over the last decade a relevant increase in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) applications in health care, known as e-health has been observed. e-Health is the use, in the health sector, of digital data in support of health care, both at the local site and at a distance.

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technologies to provide healthcare services – both for human and animal health - across geographic, temporal, social, and cultural barriers. The Centre of  Telemedicine and Telepharmacy of Camerino University (UNICAM) has developed since 2010 a PhD program in e-Health and Telemedicine which offers to doctoral candidates research training aimed to:

Develop and perform an original research project centered on e-health or telemedicine, depending on the skills and professional ambitions of the candidate;  acquire knowledge in ethics, legal, economics and business areas relevant to e-health and/or telemedicine delivery;

acquire organizational capabilities for managing e- health/telemedicine projects and to interface with decision makers both at local, national or international levels.

Fulvio Laus

short CV