A One Health approach to the health challenges that face the planet today requires collaborations across multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally. It works at the intersection of human and animal health, with the natural and built environments contributing to, and transforming this relationship.
Many One Health initiatives are driven by socioeconomic issues that include, but are not limited to population growth; nutritional, agricultural, and trade practices; poverty; globalization; land use and resource development; urbanization and migration; social justice and conflict; and climate change.
Problem identification and solution seeking from a One Health perspective requires not only an understanding of the fundamental biological mechanisms underlying health risks and the transmission of disease, but also an astute awareness of the cultural and political contexts in which humans interact with each other and their environments; an understanding of the human psyche that motivates behaviour; knowledge of environmental patterns and changes in the ecosystems in which we are embedded; communication strategies and policy developments that alter individual and system behaviours; and a capacity for efficient, effective, and innovative technical, social, and biological interventions.
In short, One Health entails an awareness of the intricate and complex relationships among the many elements that influence human mental and physical health.
The CHAIM Centre is building on our interdisciplinary foundation to bring researchers together from across disciplines, academic institutions, and partner organizations to be a leader in education, research and outreach in One Health.
Current Projects
2019 One HEALtH Student Challenge
2018 One H.E.A.L.t.H Student Challenge