The international concept “One Health, one health” recognizes that human health is closely dependent on the health of animals and the environment, and that contaminants which, via food in particular, affect human health, animal health and the environment are intimately linked. It is in this context that the European Joint Program (EJP) “One Health” was initiated.
ANSES played a founding role by coordinating, from 2004 to 2009, a network of excellence funded by the 6th framework program for research and development (PCRD) of the European Commission, then by contributing decisively to the establishment of the Med-Vet-Net association, an association of research institutes in public health and veterinary research which has supported the creation of the “One Health” EJP at European level.
The “One Health” EJP will contribute to strengthening collaboration between its 40 partners (including the Med-Vet-Net association) from 19 Member States. These research centres, most of which hold reference mandates on foodborne zoonoses, form an organized network and represent an integrated research community whose objective is to enable significant progress in the fields of foodborne zoonoses, resistance to antibiotics and emerging risks. The project is built according to the principle of co-financing between the participating institutes and the European Union (“Horizon 2020”, European program for funding research and innovation). Its total amount of 90 million euros will be 50% financed by the European Commission.
While ensuring good interaction with other major projects funded by the European Commission, the EJP “One Health” will generate scientific data intended to feed the analysis of health risks and their assessment by national and European agencies. . One of the priorities of the network will be to ensure the proper dissemination of information within the scientific community.
At the national level, the partners of the “One Health” EJP are Anses, Inra, the Institut Pasteur and Public Health France, with Anses ensuring the general coordination of the project, which is scheduled to start on 1is January 2018.
By coordinating this project, ANSES is thus contributing to the construction of the European research area, at the heart of the international concept “One Health, a single health”. This project particularly illustrates the Agency’s involvement in advancing synergies between research organizations and health agencies within the European Union.
