LEADING THE WAY IN GLOBAL ONE HEALTH

Over the past three years, authorities at local, state, and national levels sought Parker out as an adviser for COVID-19 pandemic responses. As these activities have begun to wind down over the course of this year, the need to reflect on lessons from the pandemic has come to the forefront. Policy research and practical actions related to this pandemic and pandemics in general needed to shift into focus to enable learning to grow from the pandemic experience. One fruit to come from this intensive reflection is an edited volume with 25 authors that Parker and Christine Blackburn co-edited, in which Parker also authored two of the chapters. Additionally, two reports related to laboratory safety and the origins of SARS-CoV-2 are forthcoming.

In addition to work focused on COVID-19, Global One Health produced the draft report Unique Land-Grant University Capabilities Needed for Defense Against 21st Century Biological Threats to Agriculture Animals and Crops that included input from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. This report was provided to the Commission for Biodefense, which in turn, incorporated findings and recommendations from it in its final report, Boots on the Ground: Land-Grant Universities in the Fight Against Threats to Food and Agriculture

Collaborations

One of Global One Health’s primary goals is to engender and facilitate collaboration across disciplines and among sectors as well as between the general public and government and policy leaders. The program works closely with a variety of stakeholders on and off campus with the goal of creating and sharing highquality information. In addition to the Scowcroft collaboration via P4, Global One Health cooperates with the Texas A&M Global Health Research Complex through supporting an international visiting scholar, with Texas A&M’s Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, and as a board member of the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, catalyzing a relationship between the two institutions as well as with the institutions of other board members. Collaborations with components across the Texas A&M System have also been facilitated through the work of co-chairing the Texas A&M Emergency Management Advisory Group.

Among a wide variety of stakeholders, Global One Health endeavors to foster strong ties and excellent communication in all directions, bringing collaborative opportunities to Texas A&M units across the campuses and the system. The overarching goal is to improve biosecurity, health, and welfare worldwide by promoting durable, collaborative relationships among myriad groups and individuals.

Learning Opportunities

Critically important to Global One Health is creating next generation expert policy makers with strong backgrounds in science for the future that bridges the science and policy nexus. Giving guest lectures, having a presence at career and informational fairs, and supporting student organizations such as the Student One Health Association and A-STEP: Aggies in Science, Technology and Engineering Policy are other ways Global One Health engages students, inspiring students to consider career opportunities in the one health policy arena.

Parker lectures to both undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines and colleges around Texas A&M about the importance of a global one health approach in research, policy, and action to promote true health in our world as well as to introduce them to career opportunities related to global one health and biosecurity. One notable opportunity Global One Health took advantage of was Parker’s invitation to be the keynote speaker at the white coat ceremony for the incoming VMBS graduate students. In his talk, entitled “Advance Knowledge to Benefit Humanity with Integrity and Without Causing Harm,” he took the opportunity to focus on the important task that these budding scientists have of building trust worldwide in the life sciences the eyes of the public.

In addition to working with student groups and speaking in classes, Global One Health works hard to make sure the general public has easy access to clear and solid, scientifically backed information about current health threats and how the various factors in global one health must and can be taken into consideration to minimize these threats in their own lives.

Fiscal year 2021-22 has been key in Global One Health’s journey. During this seminal year, the program significantly strengthened itself as a respected, sought-out, and influential voice in the global security priorities of biodefense, pandemic preparedness, and defense of food and agriculture sectors. Sustained funding commensurate with the potential challenges we face is necessary in order to better global health, which leads to a more peaceful world. Even more competitive funding opportunities will be available for Texas A&M researchers and students, enabling us to nurture and train interested students to pursue public service careers in biodefense and global health security.