The Global Health Research Center (GHRC) was the first research center at Duke Kunshan University (DKU). GHRC was formed in 2014 as part of DKU’s commitment to spark innovation in global health research and education. The center brings together knowledge and resources from across the university to address the most important global health issues of our time. The DKU-One Health Research Laboratory (DKU-OHRL) was first established in 2015 when a modest-sized “mail room” located in the Service Building was temporarily converted into a functional lab space. The laboratory then transitioned to its permanent home in DKU’s newly constructed Innovation Building in October 2019. The primary goals of the laboratory are to conduct cutting-edge epidemiological research at the human-animal interface and to provide high-quality training to DKU students and fellow collaborators. Since its initial launch, the DKU-OHRL has established strong research partnerships with several universities, research institutions, and government agencies within China under the leadership of Director Dr. Gregory Gray and Deputy Director Dr. Benjamin Anderson. Under the leadership of Dr. Umar, the lab is engaged in a variety of studies on emerging and/or zoonotic pathogens, with a focus on novel pathogen discovery and the utilization of non-invasive sampling techniques.
- Who are we?
The DKU One Health Research and Training Program is comprised of a team of professionals involved in advancing the good health and wellbeing of humans, animals, and the environment. Under the leadership of Professor Sajid Umar, our team is focused on applying One Health principles to complex public health problems through microbiology and epidemiology methods. The program explores the connection between the health of the environment, animals, and humans. The team’s work involves short-term One Health training programs, which have been supported by the Kunshan government and DKU since 2017. The program is far more than an academic course; Dr. Umar takes time to teach, coach, and mentor the students one-on-one.
- What do we do?
Our main focus is on respiratory virus research, with the following themes:
- Non-invasive Environmental Sampling Techniques for the Detection of Novel Pathogens
- Epidemiology Studies Among Humans & Animals with a Focus on Zoonotic Pathogens
- Field Evaluations of Diagnostic Assays and Platforms
- Workshops on Conducting Molecular Surveillance for Biological Threats
- Our objectives
- Promote a cross-sectoral and collaborative approach to improving the health and well-being of humans, animals, and their environments.
- Foster scientific research into zoonoses and vector-borne infectious diseases.
- Create synergies and facilitate the sharing of data between researchers.
- Disseminate and ‘translate’ novel scientific findings to anyone who might benefit from them.
- Develop the most appropriate communication tools to convey these novel scientific findings and to communicate widely on One Health issues.
- Training of young researchers
- Stakeholder communication
- Advocate for a one-health approach.
- Facilitate the science-policy interface.
- Our motivation
- Answering persistent and urgent health needs
- The creation of an integrated approach to combating different types of health threats by facilitating the network of community stakeholders (re-)emerging viruses, antiviral, and antimicrobial resistance bacterial and parasitic infections
- Shared concern and understanding that as transborder mobility of humans, animals, food, and feed products increases, so does the threat of the spread of dangerous pathogens and infectious diseases.
- The need to educate and train the next generation of One Health experts
- The need for a framework for information sharing, detecting and mending knowledge gaps, and cross-sectoral cooperation
