One Health

One Health is the integrative effort of multiple disciplines working together locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the shared environment.

Our Mission

The Clinical and Translational Science Award One Health Alliance (COHA) is comprised of veterinary schools partnered with medical and other colleagues through a National Institutes of Health Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA). COHA’s mission is to advance our understanding of diseases shared by humans and animals. The alliance leverages the expertise of physicians, research scientists, veterinarians, and other professionals to find solutions for medical problems and to address the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment. This approach will capitalize on One Health opportunities that accelerate translational research.

Key Areas

Two vets with dog

Clinical Research on Naturally Occurring Animal Models of Human DiseasE

Evaluation of such diseases in a comparative framework can accelerate translational medicine, reduce translational failures and advance human and animal health. Examples include research on cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, shared infectious diseases, arthritis and neurologic disorders. Human-animal interactions that promote health and well-being are also a focus.

Veterinarians in a classroom

Clinician-Scientist Education

An increased number of skilled researchers with diverse perspectives are needed to solve current and future human health problems. Veterinary medical clinician-scientists are underrepresented, yet provide distinctive and essential skills for translational research. Training of future clinician-scientists through technology-enabled and inter- professional graduate/resident curricula will enhance translational research and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Test tubes

Biobanking

A biobank is defined as a facility for the collection, preservation, storage and supply of biological samples and associated data, which follows standardized operating procedures and provides material for scientific and clinical use. The field of biobanking has changed tremendously over the past thirty years; now there are thousands of biobanks in the United States and around the world that provide biospecimen resources to researchers in academic and private sectors.

 

Veterinarian teaching a class

Communication and Collaboration

Awareness is needed of the capabilities of One Health partners in order to advance translational research. Encouraging formation of collaborative One Health teams will expand problem-solving perspectives and catalyze innovation.