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 2026 Degree Programs All Doctoral Master's 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. 2026 Sayani Bhattacharyya Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire My work primarily focuses on maping the form and repertoire of EV-associated DNA using EV-ATAC, nuclease-protection assays, Illumina/Nanopore sequencing, ddPCR, and cryo-ET/immunogold followed by, the identification and validation of packaging machinery with dual screens, this is further followed by targeted knockouts/conditional alleles and harmonized read. 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). 2026 Laurence Daigle Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire My PhD project is part of a broader initiative to develop sustainable, community-led rabies co-management as a climate change adaptation. My research focuses on identifying community-specific barriers and facilitators to rabies reporting and vaccination, and on developing a pilot Community Vaccinator Training and Certification Program to support long-term regional capacity. 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. 2026 Hannah Ferouz Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College I am working on a project focused on reducing enteric pathogens in flour using UV treatment and L-cysteine. This research aims to enhance food safety by optimizing pathogen inactivation strategies while maintaining flour quality and functionality, with potential applications in commercial processing. 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. 2026 Cole Heasley Epidemiology, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College I’m an epidemiologist, with interests in creation and evaluation of community-based health programs and climate change adaptation. For my PhD project, I’m working with a community in the Northwest Territories to create tools to address the changing risk of rabies transmission between foxes, dogs, and people. 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. 2026 Caitlin Howard Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College I recently graduated with a MSc in Microbiology and Immunology from Western University. My doctoral research will evaluate whether ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli detected in wastewater and livestock manure can serve as a reliable proxy for clinical resistance trends, aiming to uncover a low-cost system that enables population-level AMR surveillance. 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 2026 Colby Mask Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine I like studying arthropod vectors and the diseases they carry. Previously I worked on characterizing HOX gene expression during tick embryo development. Currently I am trying to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for variation in spirochete load between different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi . 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. 2026 Louise McDonald Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences My project investigates the genetic basis of macrocyclic lactone resistance in the zoonotic parasite Dirofilaria immitis by characterizing the genomic region containing two resistance-linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), with the goal of identifying structural and regulatory variants to improve diagnostics, resistance surveillance, and One Health strategies across the world. 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. 2026 Srivathsa Shankar Kurpad Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine About one in four individuals carries Mycobacterium tuberculosis , the etiological agent of Tuberculosis. Treatment outcomes are hindered by multidimensional challenges to healthcare access and antibiotic persistence, a phenomenon by which a pathogenic subpopulation displays an increased tolerance to antibiotics due to phenotypic heterogeneity. My project aims to identify the determinants of antibiotic persistence in Mtb. 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. 2026 Jill Trann Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine Influenza A virus (IAV) is a zoonotic virus that is capable of infecting a wide variety of animal species. My research focuses on host-pathogen interactions of IAVs with human and non-human animal hosts. My aim is to understand a specific molecular mechanism by which IAVs cross the species barrier and establish infection in a new host. 2026 Diana Jimena Viguerias Jimenez Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences I hold a BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemical Biology from the University of Guanajuato. My MSc research focuses on how Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria, responds to chemical stress, with the goal of better understanding parasite biology. 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. 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. 2026 Mayaline Youssef Systèmes, organisations et politiques de santé, École de santé publique My research integrates a One Health perspective to health economic modeling to evaluate equitable vaccination strategies and their effects on population health and downstream antimicrobial use. By combining infectious disease transmission dynamics with distributional cost-effectiveness analysis, my work supports evidence-based policy decisions across human, animal, and environmental health sectors in Canada. 2026 Yixin Zheng Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences My PhD research will focus on developing microbiome-directed strategies to reduce Salmonella Dublin colonization in cattle. By developing defined microbial consortia and evaluating their ability to suppress S . Dublin in controlled models and calf studies, my work aims to support sustainable pathogen control and reduced antibiotic reliance in agriculture.

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

Back Emily Jenkins, DVM, PhD Parasitic Zoonoses Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Emily Jenkins is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, at the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Canada. Her research takes a One Health approach to diseases that transmit among animals and people via food, water, vectors, and the environment. She has graduated over 50 undergraduate research and graduate students and produced over 120 peer-reviewed publications. She co-leads the University of Saskatchewan One Health Signature Area, serves as a Canadian representative to the Terrestrial Working Group of the International Arctic Science Committee, and sits on the Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel. Learn More

Our Collaborators Our wide pool of academic and non-academic collaborators contribute to the OHAP program through guest lectures, training in Studios, planning and implementing our Policy Challenges, speaking in our Forums, and mentoring our trainees. Some have also expressed interest in hosting interns, giving critical public-sector experience to our trainees. Marie Breton, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada Dr. Marie Breton is the Section Head of the Standard Setting Section, developing policies to minimize food risks, advising consumers on food practices, and evaluating microbiological methods. Recent work includes the revision of HC’s Listeria Policy (2023), risk analysis for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and microbiological criteria review for the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Aime Brown, DVM Animal Health Strategic Planning and Research Section, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Climate change risks are complex and interconnected, and impacts can propagate through natural and human systems in ways that are difficult to anticipate. My interest is to study these interconnections through a One Health approach that collaboratively incorporates Indigenous knowledge to better equip Canada to anticipate, prevent and respond to complex challenges. Catherine Carrillo, PhD Science Branch, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dr. Carrillo's research program is focused on the application of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technologies for the detection, identification and characterization of foodborne bacterial pathogens. Dr. Carrillo currently leads the sequencing component of the interdepartmental Genomics Research and Development Initiative project on antimicrobial resistance (GRDI-AMR). Maud Carron, DVM, MSc, PhD Animal Health Risk Assessment & Intelligence Section, Canadian Food Inspection Agency I work on intersectoral risk assessments topics, such as HPAI pandemic and human health risks. I was involved in developing OH capacity-building frameworks with the World Organisation for Animal Health/World Health Organization and in projects related to climate change and animal health. Angela Catford, MASc Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada Angela is the Section Head of the Health Risk Assessment Section, assessing microbial contaminants in food and identifying their risk to human health. This section supports the management of food safety incidents and completes risk analysis projects, monitoring food safety intelligence signals and emerging issues and analysing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Brent Dixon, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada Dr. Brent Dixon is a research scientist in the Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada. His research focuses on the detection and molecular characterization of food-borne parasites. His laboratory uses a variety of technologies for concentrating and detecting these parasites in foods, as well as in environmental and clinical samples. Mélissa Duplessis, PhD Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Dr. Duplessis is a research scientist in smart and sustainable dairy production, with a special focus in B-vitamin and trace mineral nutrition, based at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre. Through a One Health approach, her research program aims to develop knowledge for sustainable dairy production and cow and calf health optimization, helping dairy nutritionists and producers. Shannon French, PhD Animal Health Strategic Planning and Research Section, Canadian Food Inspection Agency My interest is in the geographic and environmental epidemiology of pathogens like HPAI that exist at the interface of domestic animals and wildlife, particularly those with zoonotic potential. Understanding the affects of anthropogenic environmental change can help to prepare Canadians for novel, emerging and expanding diseases moving forward. Alexander Gill, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada I head the Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) laboratory at BMH. My research areas include the development of methods for the detection of VTEC in food samples, VTEC virulence genes, the potential for VTEC to survive in foods, and decontamination technologies. Jessica P. Gillung, PhD Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University My research focuses on the evolution, ecology, and natural history of insects. My lab has pioneered a data-driven and specimen-focused approach to increase our knowledge of insect biology and develop tools to understand the mechanisms underlying the maintenance and loss of insect biodiversity. Hongsheng Huang, PhD Ottawa Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dr. Hongsheng Huang’s research mainly focuses on the development of methods for the detection and molecular characterization of food-borne bacterial pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance genes in food and environment. His lab uses various approaches including bacterial isolation, molecular and immunological detection and genomic characterization. Steven Leadbeater, MSc St. Andrews Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Lead Biologist on the aquatic animal health program with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in New Brunswick. Currently collaborating with research team with Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada (AAFC) and industry on improving disease resilience of farmed Atlantic salmon and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance in through One Health approach, including the use of probiotics. Christine Liu, PhD Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Collaborate with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on improving disease resilience of Atlantic salmon and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance in Canadian finfish aquaculture through One Health approach, including the use of probiotics. Neda Nasheri, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada Neda is a research scientist and the head of the food virology laboratory at Health Canada. She is also an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. Her research interests and projects include detection, genomic characterization, and inactivation of foodborne viruses. Francisco Olea Popelka, PhD Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University I was one of the main authors of the Zoonotic Tuberculosis Road Map, and continue to lead global efforts to control bovine, human, and zoonotic TB with multiple institutions globally. Since 2021, I have worked as part of the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT), implementing a dog’s Rabies vaccination campaign in Bali, Indonesia. Patrick Owen, PhD Québec Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research Capacity Enhancement Coordinator for the Québec Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research, which aims to improve Indigenous Peoples' health through the assertion of Indigenous understandings of health, fostering innovative community-based and scientifically excellent research. Patrick is also a lecturer at the School of Nutrition, specializing in ethnobotany and evolutionary health. Franco Pagotto, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada Dr. Pagotto’s lab studies foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Cronobacter sp. , including microbiological hazard identification and risk assessment, molecular typing and genomic characterization, and pathogenesis and virulence determinants. Dr. Pagotto is a PulseNet Canada steering committee member and Listeriosis Reference Centre for Canada co-director. Renée Petri, PhD Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Dr. Renée Petri is a research scientist working on the rumen microbiome and digestive system of livestock animals, based at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Dr. Petri's research program aims to improve dairy cattle health, nutrient utilization, and environmental performance by understanding and altering microbiome function. Reza Salavati, PhD Institute of Parasitology, McGill University The lab investigates gene regulation in trypanosomatid pathogens implicated in global health in response to environmental shifts like varying hosts. The primary objective is identifying therapeutic targets to mitigate these pathogens' adverse health impacts worldwide. Dor Salomon, PhD Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University My lab studies bacterial toxins and secretion systems, focusing on their effect on interbacterial interactions, anti-phage defenses, and virulence. We work on human, plant, and aquatic pathogens, such as Vibrio, Aeromonas, and Pantoea. Marilyn Scott, PhD Institute of Parasitology, McGill University We recently demonstrated that intestinal nematode infection of mice promotes earlier neurological development in uninfected offspring, and that prior exposure to a putative cue released by ectoparasite-infected guppies impedes Gyrodactylus spread. I also completed a review suggesting that host-helminth-environment interactions may increase resilience to environmental change. Jaswinder Singh, PhD Genome Editing for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability (GEFSES) NSERC-CREATE Program One of the century’s great challenges is to provide nutritional and sustainable foods to meet the demands of an expanding global population. My program lays the foundation for unique methods to identify biotic and abiotic stress-associated genes in cereals, capitalizing on modern genomics, biotechnology, and gene editing to develop next-generation climate-resilient crops. Neil Strand Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada Neil is the Section Head of the Novel Foods Section, conducting pre-market assessment of novel foods and maintaining up-to-date guidance regarding novelty and safety assessments. Recent work includes updating Health Canada’s Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods to address innovations in plant breeding and ongoing work addressing food innovation in cellular agriculture. Traian Sulea, PhD Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada I lead the NRC’s Molecular Modelling Team with a current research focus on the design and optimization of innovative biologics and therapeutic antibodies against cancer, neurological disorders and infectious diseases. We develop and apply a wide array of molecular simulation and bioinformatics methods from classical mechanics to machine learning models. Sandeep Tamber, PhD Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada My research centers on bacterial pathogens and food safety. Specifically, I work with Salmonella and Vibrio species and study their behaviour in food and food production environments. The goal of my research is to advance standard setting, guidance and policy related to food safety. I have also have projects related to antimicrobial resistance and its role in food safety. Xin Zhao, PhD Department of Animal Science, McGill University The objective of my research program is to design, validate, and apply innovative approaches to improve the management of livestock in order to prevent and control disease. Specifically, we are working on the reduction of antibiotics usage in farm animals, antimicrobial resistance in bacteria of animal origins and bovine mastitis.

Back Jianguo (Jeff) Xia, PhD Large Data Analysis Assistant Professor, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Learn More

Open to graduate students at participating schools, NSERC CREATE in One Health Against Pathogens (OHAP) was established to train experts in interdisciplinary research, communication, and crafting effective public policy. Frequently Asked Questions Recognizing the financial barriers to collaboration with industry and government, the OHAP program provides successful applicants with renewable stipends for the duration of their training. These stipends are designed to allow our trainees to participate in otherwise unfunded internships and collaborative research placements while acknowledging the substantial time commitment expected from our trainees. Eligible applicants can receive total stipends of up to $22,000 per year , for the duration of their training (2 years for Master's applicants, 3 years for PhD applicants). Applicants facing financial difficulties may request additional needs-based funding, depending on their financial circumstances and the resources available. To be considered for needs-based funding, please contact the Associate Director . Apply Now

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

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. The Policy Challenge Each year, our collaborators and co-applicants assemble a unique case study based on real-world public health challenges involving FWVZ pathogens. These case studies form the basis of our Annual Policy Challenge, a year-long project culminating in a five-day all-expenses-paid retreat, where w e challenge our trainees, working in interdisciplinary teams, to pitch innovative policy solutions and outreach strategies to a panel of leading stakeholders in government and industry. Our Second Annual Policy Challenge For our Second Annual Policy Challenge, Masters and PhD trainees joined forces in four unified teams, each tackling a unique public health challenge, all centred around the increasingly focal issue of pathogen monitoring in wastewater. To learn more about the four challenge questions and the context behind them, check out our Participant's Guide . (Pictured below, attendees of the second annual retreat) 2025 Participant's Guide Policy Solutions Four hybrid teams of Master's and PhD trainees were asked to propose policy briefs addressing the issue of wastewater monitoring for pathogens. You can read their proposals here. Team 1: Evidence-Based Wastewater Surveillance: Guiding Municipal Policy for Public Health and Environmental Monitoring Fiona Hui, Hesham Adam, Marie-Zoé Lapierre, Parichay Subedi, Rafael Fernandes Ferreira, Salomé Plat, and Sarah Donald Team 2: Wastewater Monitoring of Incoming Aircraft at Canadian Ports of Entry Alla Yushchenko, Ben Sakdinan, Cody Malone, Kyle Story, Paul Glenn, Pierre-Luc Longchamps, and Taylor Volappi Team 3: The Identification of Cryptic Viral Lineages in Wastewater: Protecting the Privacy of Canadians in Wastewater Surveillance Gillian Cameron, Giuliana Leonarda Matta, Jinha Suh, Melika Amoueian, Natalia Lorenc, Yihan He, and Yuxiao Lu Team 4: Validation and Approval of Measles (Morbillivirus Hominis ) Wastewater Monitoring Methods Alexandra Foley-Eby, Amanda Williams, Cody Koloski, Ivan Drahun, Kira Mudrey, Kirsten Campbell, and Yuxin Hu Our First Annual Policy Challenge Our first Policy Challenge was a year-long activity, culminating in a week-long retreat hosted at McGill's Gault Nature Reserve. The event featured speakers from organizations like Health Canada, the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, alongside prominent voices from academia. The last day of the retreat was punctuated by final presentations from our PhD and Masters students, showing off their policy proposals and promotional media. The Question Lecture Slides Lecture Recording An effective human vaccine against Lyme disease has existed since the mid 1990's. However, the anti-vaccine movement and subsequent disappointing vaccine uptake led the manufacturer to discontinue its commercial production. Thousands of people are now needlessly suffering from Lyme disease and symptoms associated with post-Lyme disease. While new vaccines are currently in stage three clinical testing, some fear they may meet the same fate. What public policies need to be put in place in Canada to ensure access to safe and effective vaccines against Lyme disease for those who want to be immunized? Policy Solutions Three teams of our PhD trainees were asked to propose policy solutions addressing the issue of Lyme disease vaccinations. You can find the policy briefs they created to pitch their proposals here. Lyme Disease Vaccine for Canadians: Policy Brief Ivan Drahun, Alexandra Foley-Eby, Cody Koloski, & Yuxiao Lu Lyme Disease Prevention: Enhancing Vaccine Access and Public Awareness Initiatives Gillian Cameron, Fiona Hui, Natalia Lorenc, & Alla Yushchenko Towards Trust: Policy Initiatives for Vaccine Confidence through Transparency and Education Audrey Corbeil, Rafael Fernandes Ferreira, Cody Malone, & Taylor Volappi Promotional Media Our Masters' students were tasked with creating promotional media, with three students paired with PhD teams to promote their policy proposals and one student promoting Lyme awareness. Promotional Media: Towards Trust Giuliana Matta Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Vaccine for Canadians Sarah Donald Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Prevention Yuxin Hu Promotional Media: Lyme Disease Awareness Paul Glenn

Open to graduate students at participating schools, NSERC CREATE in One Health Against Pathogens (OHAP) was established to train experts in interdisciplinary research, communication, and crafting effective public policy. The One Health Crisis Food-borne, water-borne, vector-borne, and zoonotic (FWVZ) pathogens have been on the rise in Canada and around the world with the explosion of globalization, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. All models predict the burden of FWVZ pathogens on human health is unsustainable, and will worsen as the effects of climate change intensify.To control the spread of FWVZ pathogens, we must integrate research, surveillance systems, and public policies in a holistic ‘One Health’ approach. One Health recognizes the profound interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health while providing effective, equitable, and sustainable ways to maximize public good and minimize harmful social, economic, health, and environmental outcomes. The current political and social landscape does not encourage the dissemination of difficult facts or the adoption of sound science-backed public policy. Scientists must learn to effectively and accessibly communicate facts and evidence with politicians and the general public. NSERC CREATE in One Health Against Pathogens (OHAP) was established to train experts in interdisciplinary research, communication, and crafting effective public policy. With these skills and our holistic One Health approach, our graduate students will have what it takes to bring an end to our current global health crises and support the development of preventative technologies and policies to safeguard our shared future. We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien.

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