We train graduate students to tackle global health crises. Are you a future One Health leader? Applications close November 30. Application Portal Applications for the 2026 OHAP trainee cohort will open in November 2025. The start date for this cohort, including funding and programming, will be in September of 2026. Applications may also be submitted as video or audio recordings containing the same information requested below. Recorded applications must be sent by email to the Associate Director . If you have any accessibility concerns that might impact your ability to complete your application or would like to request a deadline extension for circumstances out of your control, please contact the Associate Director before the deadline to discuss possible accommodations. Assessment Criteria Applications to the OHAP program are reviewed by a committee typically composed of our Co-Applicants and Collaborators. The committee evaluates candidates based on the following qualities: A co-supervisor in government or industry; A collaborative or interdisciplinary partnership in academia, government or industry; An academic or professional background in a One Health field; A project with clearly defined goals that would advance One Health in Canada; Clear career goals that will be directly advanced by their participation in OHAP; and Academic excellence (e.g. superior grades, publications, awards, etc.). Our program is meant to span two years for Master's students and three years for PhD students so, w ith few exceptions, eligibility is limited to students who will be entering the first year of a thesis-based graduate program (Master's or PhD) . If you have already begun studying but have extended or plan to extend your degree, please explain this under the Extenuating Circumstances section of your Supporting Document. In addition to the listed criteria, Indigenous applicants are strongly prioritized. If you have any questions regarding the application process or our assessment procedures, please contact the Associate Director . Personal Information Given Name Surname Personal Phone Number Preferred Name Preferred Pronouns Student Email Mailing Address I am First Nation, Métis, or Inuk (Inuit) How did you hear about OHAP? Your answer helps us reach new students Program Information If you have not yet been admitted to your academic program, please provide your expected information (for example, the date you would be admitted to your degree). If any information is not yet available (for example, your Student ID), you can enter N/A. If your application is successful, you will need to contact the Associate Director to provide updated information, when available. Program Type Select your program School Select your university Tuition Status Select your status If this date falls before the Winter term of your cohort year, please include plans to complete our program before graduation in your Supporting Document (see below) . Degree Admission Date Student ID Your degree program must broadly relate to at least one aspect of One Health (e.g. human, animal, or environmental health) Degree Details Supervisor's Name OHAP strongly encourages participation in collaborative projects. While not mandatory, students who have secured an internship or research placement in a government or industrial lab as part of their project will be prioritized for funding. Proposed Co-Supervisor Provide your cumulative GPA (CGPA) as it appears on your transcript. Extenuating circumstances impacting your GPA can be explained in your application document. Self-Reported GPA Unofficial Transcript Upload Your Transcript Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Please follow the guidelines for supporting documents (see below) Supporting Document Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Academic CV Upload Your CV Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Estimate any additional funding you expect to receive from other sources, like grants or awards, not including employment income or stipend matching by your supervisor. This amount will not impact your application but may impact your stipend offer. See our Funding page for more information. Additional Funding See our Funding page to determine which category you should apply under. Funding Category Choose an option Apply Now Thank you for applying! Please check your inbox for a message confirming that we've received your application. Supporting Document Guidelines For text-based applications, submitted through our application portal, please upload your supporting documents in PDF or Word (.docx) format. For readability, we encourage the use of 12-point font, Times New Roman or equivalent, and 1.5 line spacing. Introduce Yourself (Approx. 250 words) Provide an overview of your educational background. List post-secondary institutions that you have attended along with degrees obtained. What in your background led you to the study of infectious diseases or One Health? Describe why you would like to pursue a graduate degree with the supervisor you have chosen. Partnership, if applicable (Approx. 250 words) List all academic, government, and industry partners involved in your project. Describe experiments that will take place in your partner organizations’ facilities. Describe your partners’ contributions to funding your project (if any). Extenuating Circumstances (Optional) Applicants are welcome to explain any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted their academic performance. If you have already begun your studies, please use this section to explain how you intend to complete the full length of our program before your graduation. Our admissions committee will take these circumstances into account when evaluating your application. Project Goals (Approx. 500 words) Provide a brief background of the project to be undertaken as part of your current graduate program. List your hypothesis and overarching objectives. Describe the importance of the topic to Canada and how the expected outcomes will benefit Canada from a One Health perspective. Your proposed supervisor is encouraged to collaborate with you in writing this portion of the application. Career Goals (Approx. 250 words) Outline your career goals and how your participation in OHAP will help you accomplish them. Describe the contributions you wish to make Canadian and Global Health throughout your career. PI Statement and Signature The PI must read and sign the application document submitted by the applicant. Digital signatures are accepted. Their signature must be accompanied by a statement indicating that the PI agrees to mentor and advise the applicant and provide matching stipend funds from existing research grants which, at minimum, double the stipend provided by the OHAP program (excluding Indigenous applicants). References Use this section to provide a list of your most relevant literature references. Do not refer readers to websites for additional information on your proposal. Do not introduce hyperlinks in your list of references.

Back Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl ACVIM Veterinary Internal Medicine Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph Dr. Weese is a veterinary internist and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He is a Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Director of the University of Guelph Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, and Chief of Infection Control at the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital. He is also a member of the Tripartite Global Leaders Group on AMR, Chair of the WHO Advisory Group for Critically Important Antimicrobials in Human Medicine and runs the infectious disease website WormsAndGermsBlog . He has a focus on infectious diseases, particularly emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance and diseases and the human/animal interface. Learn More

Back Christopher Fernandez Prada, PhD Molecular Parasitology Professeur agrégé, Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal Christopher Fernandez-Prada (CFP) is an Associate Professor at Université de Montréal and Director of their Animal Parasitology Diagnostic Laboratory of UdeM. CFP’s research is focused on the study of drug resistant parasites and the biological roles of their extracellular vesicles in genetic exchange and host-parasite interactions. Moreover, CFP lab is interested in the mode of action of novel antiparasitic agents, the discovery of novel biomarkers (with a focus on drug resistance and asymptomatic carrier state) and the development of alternative tools to control and manage protozoan parasites in a One Health approach. His lab is currently supported by the CIHR, NSERC, CFI, FRQNT and the J.-Louis Lévesque Foundation. Learn More

We pair the discipline-based research skills our trainees acquire during their traditional thesis research work with the advanced systems thinking needed to develop, evaluate, and modify context-specific policies to prevent and control the spread of FWVZ pathogens. Seeking One-Health Leaders Our goal is to provide Canada with public health strategists and researchers, leaders, and regulators with a system-level understanding of FWVZ pathogens and honed skills for developing, evaluating, and sustaining contextual and holistic policies to strengthen Canada’s capacity to control FWVZ pathogens and provide global leadership in the fight against One Health crises. We pair the discipline-based research skills our trainees acquire during their traditional thesis research work with the advanced systems thinking needed to develop, evaluate, and modify context-specific policies to prevent and control the spread of FWVZ pathogens. Non-academic mentoring by government and industry professionals prepares our trainees for careers outside of academia while training in interdisciplinary management, communication, and political processes equips them to lead the development of scientifically, socially, and environmentally sound public policy. Apply Now One Health Course Trainees guide learning in our flipped classroom, exploring topics like One Health and Systems Thinking, determinants of health, integrated technical case studies, and outbreak investigation and control. Skill Development Studios Facilitated by government, industry, academic, and Indigenous health leaders, our immersive workshops provide technical and professional training critical to core One Health competencies. Virtual Forum Series Invited health leaders discuss pressing and controversial issues and debate solutions in a series of virtual forums moderated by trainees. Pioneering research conducted by our members is also showcased. Annual Policy Challenge Our PhD trainees pitch policy solutions to real-world health challenges in case studies judged by leading stakeholders, working with MSc. trainees trasked with crafting public outreach strategies to promote their proposals. Sample Timetables See our Schedule MSc Program: OHAP Course 3hrs/week Studios ~ 3-6hrs each Complete 10 total Forums 2hrs each Policy Challenge 5-day retreat in July Year 1 Fall Winter Summer Year 2 Fall Winter Summer 3 1 1 2 2 1 PhD Program: OHAP Course 3hrs/week Studios ~ 3-6hrs each Complete 15 total Forums 2hrs each Policy Challenge 5-day retreat in July Year 1 Fall Winter Summer Year 2 Fall Winter Summer Year 3 Fall Winter Summer 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 C I Learning Objectives Explain OH principles and concepts; apply systems thinking for holistic understanding of FWVZ pathogens; identify social and biophysical determinants that underlie FWVZ transmission and control; investigate FWVZ outbreaks; pinpoint entry points and indirect positive and negative effects of control measures Describe how to detect pathogens in water, food and tissue samples; interpret integrative analysis of diverse biological, geographical and social datasets, including big “omics” data; devise creative solutions Conduct situational and SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analyses Participate in, build, and manage transdisciplinary teams; network with colleagues across disciplines Facilitate debates and discussions; provide constructive criticism; communicate risk to the public, media, and policy makers Examine and reflect on personal biases; demonstrate cultural and situational sensitivity with local communities and stakeholders Write crisp, compelling proposals, reports, policy briefs, and op-eds Identify policy gaps; weigh evidence from diverse stakeholders; align policy implementation with desired outcomes; recommend, iteratively monitor, assess, and modify policies C-Course; S-Studios; P-Policy Challenge; F-Forums; I-Trainee Initiatives S P F I S I P S I P S I F P S I P S I P I

Back Sebastien Faucher, PhD Water-borne Pathogens Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Prof. Sebastien Faucher’s research program aims to understand the genetic factors and environmental factors that influence the survival and growth of water-borne pathogens in the non-clinical environment and their transmission to humans. The emergent pathogen Legionella pneumophila is the prime focus of this research program. This pathogen grows in engineered water systems. Metagenomic tools are used to understand the role of the resident microbiota and the genomic diversity of L. pneumophila . The effect of climate change and water system operation and disinfection strategies on the evolution of L. pneumophila is also studied through experimental evolution in model water systems. Learn More

Back Maarten Voordouw, PhD Parasitology, Disease Ecology Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Maarten Voordouw is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi , often consists of many genetically distinct strains. One of my main research interests is understanding how this strain diversity is maintained in nature. Our research is currently focused on three topics: Variation in host tissue abundance, transmission, and pathology among strains of B. burgdorferi ; Ability of maternal antibodies to protect offspring from infection with B. burgdorferi ; and Multiple-strain infections and interactions between strains in the host or tick vector. Learn More

We train graduate students to think holistically and take a One Health approach to global health crises. Are you a future One Health leader? Get in touch with our Program Coordinator to learn more. CONTACT US The OHAP program is primarily administered from the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry at McGill University's Macdonald Campus. Phone (514) 398-7923 Address 21,111 Rue Lakeshore, St Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9 Canada For General Inquiries OHAP Associate Program Director Brooklyn Frizzle brooklyn.frizzle@mcgill.ca OHAP Program Director Jennifer Ronholm, PhD jennifer.ronholm@mcgill.ca Our Partner Schools University of Guelph Lawrence Goodridge, PhD goodridl@uoguelph.ca Université de Montréal Christopher Fernandez Prada, PhD christopher.fernandez.prada@umontreal.ca University of Saskatchewan Maarten Voordouw, PhD maarten.voordouw@usask.ca

Our Trainees Health agencies at all levels of government recognize the importance of One Health training in monitoring and containing FWVZ pathogens in Canada and around the world. Scientists with experience in public policy are equally in demand in private industry as they navigate the regulatory frameworks for new drugs and diagnostic tests. To stop the transmission of FWMZ pathogen transmission, scientists must learn to effectively communicate facts and evidence with the public, media, and policymakers. Our trainees are One Health-minded scientists with the skills needed to navigate complex social and political landscapes and support the development of regulations to manage global health crises. Our Universities All Brock University McGill University University of Guelph University of Saskatchewan Université de Montréal Cohorts All 2023 2024 2025 Programs All MSc PhD 2024 Hesham Adam Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Lyme disease is an emerging tick-borne disease in Canada and is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi . This spirochete resides in the skin of the vertebrate host. I will explore the impact of B. burgdorferi on the bacterial microbiome in the skin of mice and the ticks that feed on these mice. 2024 Melika Amoueian Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University I have recently graduated from the University of Tehran with a Bachelor's degree in microbiology, and my research interests revolve around investigating the interactions between hosts and parasites, particularly viruses like Nipah. Currently, my project is focused on exploring the antiviral mechanisms of IFITMs against NiV. 2025 Sienna Brennan-Raab Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research focuses on understanding how environmental factors, like increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, can affect crop resilience. I will be investigating the effects on pathogen virulence and identifying pathogen-resistant bean genotypes. This insight into agricultural productivity and sustainability is vital for addressing current and future food security challenges. 2025 Laurianne Bédard Département de sciences biologiques, Faculté des arts et des sciences, Université de Montréal Aiming to develop accessible and effective nature-based solutions, I investigate the potential of treatment wetlands—harnessing plant-microorganism interactions—for water purification. My PhD research addresses the global antimicrobial resistance crisis by evaluating an innovative wastewater management practice in colder climates and assessing its impacts on both ecosystem and human health 2023 Gillian Cameron Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Gillian’s PhD thesis focuses on how copper affects the pathogen Legionella pneumophila . Her research aims to characterize the environmental conditions and mutations that lead to the emergence of copper resistance in L. pneumophila and examine the efficacy of using copper in Legionella control. 2024 Kirsten Campbell Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Kirsten graduated with a BSc in Microbiology and Chemistry from the University of Victoria. Her Master's thesis focuses on placental malaria and the role extracellular vesicles play in the disease. Her research aims to uncover vital biomarkers to provide early diagnosis and to discover novel host defence mechanisms. 2025 Sarah Clarke Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph My research focuses on the development of novel methods for the isolation, identification, and characterization of food-borne pathogens. My PhD work will investigate the genomic and phenotypic factors that facilitate the persistence of pathogenic bacteria in low-moisture foods, which will then be leveraged to develop genomic characterization pipelines used in part to perform risk assessment of strains identified through regulatory monitoring programs. 2023 Audrey Corbeil Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal My PhD thesis interests revolve around extracellular vesicles (EVs), with a focus on the protozoan parasite Leishmania . My project aims to characterize this parasite and their EVs in the context of drug resistance and RNAi pathway modifications to gain a better understanding of their influence on parasite-parasite and parasite-vector interactions. 2025 Zoé Cros Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University I am researching how environmental factors shape the gut microbiome and disease resilience in trout. By comparing wild and farmed trout microbiota, I aim to understand how microbial diversity impacts infection resistance. This research could help reduce antibiotic overuse in aquaculture, lowering the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 2025 Sarah Dickson Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University Sarah Dickson is a recent graduate of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where she obtained her MSc in Epidemiology. Her research focused on using mathematical modelling to examine how conflict scenarios impact the risk of measles transmission in Gaza, Palestine. She is looking forward to beginning her PhD, which will examine the feasibility of control mechanisms to detect zoonotic leaps of H5N1 into high-risk agricultural populations and halt eventual transmission chains to densely populated areas. 2025 Khardjatou Marianne Djigo Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University Dengue and malaria pose significant public health burdens in regions like Colombia, where they are endemic. To inform the development of more effective, equity grounded disease-control strategies, my M.Sc. thesis aims to assess determinants of co-infection and co-occurrence of these diseases, using integrated clinical, socio-economic, climatic, and entomological data. 2023 Sarah Donald Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph Sarah is a MSc candidate whose research project focuses on natural products, with an interest in antimicrobials that are encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Sarah’s project involves BGCs located on large plasmids found in actinomycetes, specifically BGCs on plasmids which contain prophage regions. 2025 Ethan Done Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan Ethan graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Saskatchewan. His research aim is to develop deployable diagnostic technologies that allow anyone to diagnose disease in plants, animals, and humans at the point of sample collection. 2023 Ivan Drahun Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Brock University My doctoral work investigates the vector competence of mosquito species, both native and invasive to Canada; specifically, their capability for infection with arthropod-borne viruses (e.g., West Nile and Zika viruses). I am also exploring the use of insect-specific viruses as a means of vector control and arbovirus transmission reduction. 2023 Rafael Fernandes Ferreira Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal I investigated, in my masters, and I’m currently working on phenotypic differences in Leishmania resistance to drugs. I aspire working as a researcher within institutes, organizations, universities, or the pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of advancing the development of improved strategies for the treatment and control of infections. 2023 Alexandra Foley-Eby Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan I focus on maternally transmitted strain-specific immunity in mice, against the Lyme disease bacterium. Immunology in Lyme has become a passion of mine as it pertains to prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring. For my future, I want to include more veterinary expertise, experience, and data in discussions, as well as prioritize patient-driven research. 2023 Paul Glenn Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Paul evaluates the effect of disinfectants on the transfer of antibiotic resistance from bacteria present on food to Salmonella enterica . He aims to test disinfectants and surface sanitizers that are commonly used in the food industry to guide the regulation of these compounds and reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance. 2025 Jessica Hainault Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal Jessica graduated from UQTR with a BSc in biological and ecological sciences. She is currently pursuing a master's degree, with her research focusing on the effect of white-tailed deer abundance on tick-borne diseases and the ecological parameters that modulate this relationship, employing a One Health approach. 2024 Yihan He Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research work focuses on developing smart “lab-on-chip” microfluidic platform for rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens, ensuring the production of safe and high-quality food for consumers. 2025 Leslie Herrera Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University As part of my project with the CFP lab and the Langlais lab team, I am exploring how DR and DS parasites, along with their extracellular vesicles, modulate host immune cells 2025 Alice Hou Department of Human Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University My research focuses on characterizing a severe dengue mouse model for preclinical vaccine testing. I analyze DENV-specific CD8+ T cells and host-pathogen interactions to better understand severe disease mechanisms and contribute to global dengue prevention strategies. 2023 Yuxin Hu Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph After recently graduating from McGill University with BSc in Food Science and BSc in Nutritional Science, I am starting my graduate studies at University of Guelph. My graduate work will be centered on food safety and microbiology, with a focus on bacteriophages. 2023 Fiona Hui Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research interest centers around the dynamic interactions among host microbiomes, their metabolomic profiles, and environmental exposures (including food, pathogens, drugs and other chemicals). We focus on utilizing computational approaches to analyze big data and to gain insights into their complex relationships. 2023 Cody Koloski Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan My interests include insect and arthropod vectors (ticks and mosquitoes), and the pathogens they harbor. My prior work characterized the molecular mechanisms of tick repellents. Presently, I devote my research to unraveling the complexities of superinfections of Borrelia burgdorferi in mice and subsequent transmission to feeding ticks. 2024 Marie Zoé Lapierre Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University As an MSc candidate, Marie Zoé studies the phenomenon of loss of resistance in Leishmania infantum by generating revertant strains. Her research will allow us to evaluate the ability of the revertant parasites to survive in different hostile conditions and the presence of medication. 2024 Pierre-Luc Longchamps Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research interests focus on bacterial dormancy states in the food supply chain, particularly in Campylobacter jejuni . I want to investigate how bacteria enter and exit dormancy states such as the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) and antibiotic persistent state to survive in the agri-food chain and how they contribute to biofilm formation and persistence 2023 Natalia Lorenc Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Natalia’s project focuses on antimicrobial resistance in Canadian aquaculture. She's working on identifying antibiotic resistant bacteria in aquatic food production and investigating the transfer pathways of antibiotic resistant genes in the food supply chain. Natalia’s research aims to develop intervention strategies to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials used in Canada. 2023 Yuxiao Lu Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research interests center on the development of a microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” device that couples isothermal amplification method for specific and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens during fresh produce processing. We currently focus on developing a microfluidic device coupled recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with lateral flow assay (LFA) to screen norovirus in real food samples. 2025 Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma'aruf School of Public Health, College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of Saskatchewan Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that can affect both animals and humans. My PhD research is aim at addressing antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacteria by developing immunotherapeutic adjuvants in synergy with antibiotics. Personally, I am also involved in teaching, research, and advocacy for one-digital-health framework in various youth-lead organizations. 2023 Cody Malone Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Cody’s PhD work is on the zoonotic food-borne parasite, Trichinella , in the North American North. Cody aims to characterize the newly discovered species, T. chanchalensis , and to provide meaningful information that those in the North can use to make informed decisions about the infection risk of consuming wild carnivores and omnivores. 2025 Supun Manathunga Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University My research is focused on integrated Bayesian probabilistic modeling and risk-based simulation for spatiotemporal prediction of West Nile virus and optimization of public health interventions 2023 Giuliana Matta Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Giuliana recently graduated with a Bachelors in Life Sciences. She hopes to expand her knowledge on viruses and learn how they invade host cells. Her graduate studies focus on the Nipah Virus host cell attachment and budding, specifically the actin cytoskeleton's function in the M protein. Ultimately, Giuliana believes there is much more to discover in this complicated field. 2024 Kira Mudrey Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan My research interests center around the management of zoonotic infections in wildlife species. My current work focuses on developing rapid and lab-independent molecular diagnostic methods for Brucella abortus (Brucellosis) infection in wild bison, which will support wood bison conservation efforts in Canada. 2024 Salomé Plat Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph Recently graduated with a MSc in Molecular Microbiology, I am starting a PhD program at the University of Guelph. The aim of my PhD project is to develop a solution to inhibit the survival and propagation of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains with an approach based on phage- encoded sequences in combination with natural antimicrobial compounds. 2025 Jonathan Rekve College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan I specialize in nanomedicine and synchrotron-based drug system design, focusing on neuronal reprogramming by converting astrocytes into induced neurons to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and epilepsy. This approach also addresses the neurological effects of fever, vector-borne, and zoonotic (FWVZ) pathogens, including Zika virus, offering potential therapeutic strategies for infection-related neurodegeneration. 2025 Lishita Rowjee Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph Having graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences and a microbiology minor from the University of Guelph, I am starting my MSc in Pathobiology. My research will focus on investigating susceptibility profiles of veterinary Microsporum canis isolates across North America to determine whether they are growing resistant to antifungals. 2024 Ben Sakdinan Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University Vibrio cholerae is a waterborne pathogen that causes the severe diarrheal disease, cholera. This project aims to track phage:V. cholerae ratios over time in cholera patients to establish causal relationships, and develop and validate a predictive model of cholera disease severity based on the phage:V. cholerae ratio. 2024 Kyle Story Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My project is an examination of the pathogenicity of polar microbes collected from Mars and icy moon analogue sites in the high arctic. This research is part of a larger planetary protection study designed to prepare for the Mars Sample Return mission proposed for the early 2030’s. 2024 Parichay Raj Subedi Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan I am a veterinarian and MSc candidate studying antimicrobial resistance in Trueperella pyogenes , a pathogen prevalent in livestock infections. My research focuses on characterizing the antimicrobial susceptibility of T. pyogenes isolates, utilizing genome sequencing to identify genetic determinants of resistance, and enhancing antimicrobial stewardship practices. 2024 Jinha Suh Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research focuses on the differences in gut microbiota between Singaporean wild red junglefowl and Canadian domestic chickens. The goal of my project is to establish a culture collection of potential probiotic candidates that could help in treating key pathogenic diseases within the poultry industry. 2025 Irelynd Tackabury Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University My research involves collaboration between OHAP, the CFIA, and the GRDI-AMR-One-Health project. I am investigating the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in bacteria capable of producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, including carbapenemases, found on ready-to-eat food commodities. I focus on ARGs within mobile genetic elements and their transmission to pathogenic strains. 2023 Taylor Volappi Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Research involving the unexplored intricate interactions between hosts and parasites has always been my passion. My planned work centers around elucidating the infection ecology of Echinococcus multilocularis within its various hosts in Western Canada, and using laboratory techniques to determine the pathogenicity of the various strains located here. 2024 Amanda Williams Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Brock University To date, my research has investigated the interactions of arthropod-borne viruses in host cells as well as the susceptibility of mosquitoes to viral infection. My doctoral research seeks to characterize Caribbean mosquito species, and the viruses that infect them, with applications in public health and vector control. 2025 Suhao Yin Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph As part of my MSc position in Food Science, I am working on a project focused on developing a novel hydroxyl-radical process for inactivating enteric viruses on fresh and frozen soft fruits. This research aims to enhance food safety by optimizing antimicrobial treatments while maintaining product quality, with potential applications for commercial validation. 2025 Yarina You Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Yarina’s research focuses on the economic impacts of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Canada, examining how agricultural practices and policy interventions affect public health. She aims to use economic modelling to inform evidence-based strategies that mitigate AMR risks and advance sustainable agricultural systems.

Our Steering Committee The OHAP Steering Committee is an autonomous group ensuring oversight and accountability. The Committee guides our strategic direction, assessing our training program to identify its strengths and weaknesses, determine if our goals are being met, and provide recommendations to continue improving our offerings year after year. The Committee is chaired by a recognized leader with experience in government, industry, policy, and academia. Members are appointed by the Program Director according to approved criteria and serve for the duration of the program. These members include experts in EDI and program evaluation alongside members representing Graduate Studies, research stakeholders, and racialized and Indigenous communities. The appointed members are joined by an elected trainee representative, chosen by their peers to serve two-year terms. The OHAP Program Director and Associate Director serve as additional non-voting advisors to the Committee. Lynda Asiko Bulimo, MA Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Advocate Equity Education Advisor, McGill University Lynda is an Equity Education Advisor (Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Education) in the Equity Team at McGill University. Her work primarily focuses on developing and leading education-based initiatives for staff and faculty towards anti-racism and anti-oppression. Her research interests explore anti-Blackness, racism and mental health in higher education. Sean Quinlan, MSc, MBA Stakeholder Representative Food Safety Science Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Sean is the National Manager – Food Safety Research at the CFIA. He and his team are responsible for the management, oversight, and delivery of the CFIA’s food safety research program, which is focused on the development of methods for the detection, identification, and characterization of chemical and microbial hazards in food. Ethel LaValley Indigenous Representative Mayor, Township of South Algonquin Ethel LaValley is an Algonquin Elder of the Pikwakanagan First Nation. Ethel was elected to Council, becoming Mayor of the Township of South Algonquin, and serving four terms as Vice President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. She continues to be engaged as an Elder at traditional openings and gatherings and speaks on issues affecting Indigenous people. Genevieve Tanguay, PhD Committee Chair Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada Dr. Tanguay is Vice-Chief Science Advisor of Canada. She was the first woman Vice President Research at the National Research Council of Canada. Previously, she served as Vice-Rector Research at the University of Montreal and Assistant Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation in the Government of Québec. Throughout her career Dr. Tanguay has been recognised as a science policy leader both in Québec and in Canada. Josephine Nalbantoglu, PhD Graduate Studies Representative Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, McGill University Dr. Josephine Nalbantoglu is the Associate Provost (Graduate Education) and Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies of McGill University. Her research interests focus on the molecular genetics of Alzheimer's Disease, on the regulation of gene expression in the nervous system and on gene therapy for brain tumours. Taylor Volappi, MSc Trainee Representative OHAP CREATE Program Research involving the unexplored intricate interactions between hosts and parasites has always been my passion. My planned work centers around elucidating the infection ecology of Echinococcus multilocularis within its various hosts in Western Canada, and using laboratory techniques to determine the pathogenicity of the various strains located here.

Our Co-Applicants An interinstitutional team of Co-Applicants combining unparalleled knowledge and experience to deliver first-class training in One Health while staying representative of gender, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Internationally Recognized Expertise in pathogen diagnostics; vaccines and immunotherapies; drugs; evolution of antibiotic, insecticide, and drug resistance; and host-pathogen ecology and evolution. ​ Professional Practitioners in animal and human health, nutrition, and engineering, with technical skills in integrative data analysis, modeling, policy development and analysis, leadership and administration, and academic and stakeholder collaborations. ​ Award-Winning Instructors in One Health curriculum development, educational pedagogy, training, and publication. Sebastien Faucher, PhD Water-borne Pathogens Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Read More Christopher Fernandez Prada, PhD Molecular Parasitology Professeur agrégé, Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal Read More Lawrence Goodridge, PhD Food-borne Pathogen Dynamics Professor, Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph Read More Emily Jenkins, DVM, PhD Parasitic Zoonoses Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Read More Qian (Vivian) Liu, PhD Viral Zoonoses Assistant Professor, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Read More Maarten Voordouw, PhD Parasitology, Disease Ecology Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Read More Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl ACVIM Veterinary Internal Medicine Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph Read More Jianguo (Jeff) Xia, PhD Large Data Analysis Assistant Professor, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Read More