The Translational Infectious Diseases research hub employs One
Health/EcoHealth approaches to infectious diseases research by bringing
together faculty members from the fields of basic science, public health and
health management with relevant clinical specialties. This multidisciplinary
project is expected to create the critical mass that would facilitate an
academic quantum leap in the field of infectious diseases, ultimately
translating into better public health policy.
The One Health /
EcoHealth approach has emerged over recent years in order to create solutions
for complex scientific problems related to health, while bridging inherent gaps
between academic and medical, clinical, veterinary and public health
disciplines. This approach takes into consideration the inter-dependence of
human, animal and environmental health and promotes multi-disciplinary and
cross-sectoral research in a ‘holistic’ fashion, in areas such as zoonotic
diseases or infections borne by food, water and other environmental vehicles.
Infections acquired through mucosal exposure to pathogens, mainly the
respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, constitute an ongoing global challenge
for diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and are tightly linked to
environmental factors. As the role of the human microbiome in health and disease
increasingly becomes evident, harnessing the One Health/EcoHealth approaches to
bolster translational research of infectious diseases can be expected to
integrate various methodologies, including genomics and proteomics,
epidemiology, computational biology, health policy, economics and social
aspects. While several leading researchers at the FOHS are already engaged in
research in the abovementioned disciplines, there is a clear need and a unique
opportunity to leverage their expertise for multi-disciplinary synergic
research projects. The proposed research hub focuses on translational
infectious diseases research and is expected to create the critical mass that
would facilitate an academic quantum leap in this area, by joining up staff
members from the fields of basic science, public health and health management
with the relevant clinical specialties. The hub will take advantage of existing
centers of excellence within the Faculty, specializing in relevant areas.
Linking with researchers from various disciplines under the One
Health/EcoHealth umbrella is also expected to benefit future research dealing
with environmental health, in addition to infectious diseases
- For more information, please contact the hub coordinators:
- Prof. Jacob Moran-Gilad, Health Systems Management (giladko@post.bgu.ac.il)
- Prof. David Greenberg, Pediatrics
