One Health EJP - Promoting One Health in Europe through joint actions on foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging microbiological hazards

Last updated on 14-12-2022 by Pierre Daubresse
Project duration:
February 1, 2018
-
December 31, 2022

In short

The One Health concept recognises that human health is tightly connected to the health of animals and the environment, for example that animal feed, human food, animal and human health, and environmental contamination are closely linked. In line with the “Prevent-Detect-Respond” concept, the main focus of the One Health EJP is to reinforce collaboration between institutes. By enhancing transdisciplinary cooperation and integration of activities through dedicated joint research projects, joint integrative projects and through education and training in the fields of foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging threats. The EJP reinforces the preparedness capacity of the participating laboratories, risk assessors and risk managers in an international context. Thus, there are opportunities for harmonisation of approaches, methodologies, databases and procedures for the assessment and management of foodborne hazards, emerging threats and antimicrobial resistance across Europe.

Project description

At the heart of the One Health EJP consortium is the delivery of high-quality, multi-sectoral research to attain optimal health and wellbeing outcomes for humans, animals and the environment. We do this in close connection with the related European, national and international authorities responsible for public health, animal health and risk analysis, to create opportunities to inform policy change.

The One Health EJP focuses on the following:

  • The need to strengthen the links between human health (“Med”), animal health (“Vet”) and environmental aspects using a ‘One Health’ approach
  • The need to further integrate surveillance and response capacities, preventive approaches, detection systems as well as preparedness and response to disease outbreaks
  • The need to strengthen collaboration between public organisations with public and animal health and food safety mandates, across the Med-Vet interface, through joint projects aimed at research and integration, and through education and training activities
  • The need to foster interaction between European, national and international authorities and stakeholders, such as ECDC, EFSA, FAO, OIE and WHO-EU 
  • The need to update policy makers on these achievements and, built on this knowledge, to take appropriate action

The direction, purpose and scope of our scientific strategy are determined by our Strategic Research Agenda, which is the basis for the One Health EJP scientific activities and the starting point for both forging strategic interactions with other EU projects and initiatives.

Stakeholder engagement is a fundamental aspect of any large project such as the One Health EJP. We ensure that all of the One Health EJP’s scientific outcomes reach the right audiences through our targeted dissemination activities to help drive forward the translation of science to policy. Dialogue with our stakeholders is a productive activity, and our stakeholders have developed strong collaborative relationships with many of our projects. 

Finally, the One Health EJP continues to foster strong relationships and create a solid basis to continue, improve and consolidate integrative actions beyond the lifetime of the project in a sustainable way. Our focus on sustainability explores ways to encourage long-term One Health research and innovation.

 

Results

Up until December 2020,  the One Health EJP has funded 24 collaborative research projects, 5 collaborative integrative projects and 16 PhD projects, all addressing the priorities as set in the Strategic Research Agenda on foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging zoonotic threats. We have a two way open dialogue with our stakeholders, namely the Line Ministries of the One Health EJP partners organisations and the ECDC and EFSA, whereby all of our research outcomes are communicated in regular meetings. Additionally, a One Health Outcome Inventory database  with an overview of all project results has been created and is available. All the publications that have been published from the OHEJP projects are available on the One Health EJP website and on zenodo. A specific data management plan is also available for each of our projects and will be updated on zenodo as well, as they become available.

In 2020, the One Health EJP has extended its influence by reaching out to new European and international stakeholders, namely EMA, EEA, FAO, OIE and WHO.

The One Health EJP is also committed to enlarging its European Public Health and Animal Health network. Therefore, as from January 2021 new beneficiaries  join the consortium and participate in the integrative activities. This initiative follows the creation of a larger European One Health network.

Lastly, the One Health EJP has a strong focus on sustainability and thus we are developing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda which will focus on the future of One Health research for the forthcoming decade. The One Health EJP also plans to participate in one or more of the future Partnerships that are going to be implemented within the next EU Framework Programme “Horizon Europe”, therefore ensuring the continuity of its actions.

Consult the list of all Joint Research Projects (JRPs) and Joint Integrative Projects (JIPs) on the One Health EJP website.

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