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

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

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.

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 Jianguo (Jeff) Xia, PhD Large Data Analysis Assistant Professor, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University The general research interest of my lab is to understand the impacts of host genetics, gut microbiome, diet and environmental exposures on health and diseases. In addition to developing novel and easy-to-use bioinformatics platforms for omics data analysis, we use cutting-edge, high-resolution LC-MS systems for metabolomics and exposomics studies coupled with a C. elegans model for further validation and mechanistic investigation. Learn More

We train graduate students to tackle global health crises. Are you a future One Health leader? Applications close November 30. Application Portal We are no longer accepting applications for the 2026 OHAP trainee cohort. Applications for the 2027 OHAP trainee cohort will open in Fall 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 you were admitted in this academic term or earlier, please include plans to complete our program before graduation in your Supporting Document (see below) . Degree Admission Date * required 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. 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 and describe any experiments taking place in your partner organizations’ facilities. Describe any partner’s funding contributions. Extenuating Circumstances (Optional) Please 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 consider these circumstances when evaluating your application. 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. 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 potential benefit of your project to Canada. 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 specific OHAP training activities will help you accomplish them. Describe the contributions you wish to make to Canadian and Global Health throughout your career. PI Statement and Signature Your supervisor must read and sign your application document before submission. Their signature must be accompanied by a statement indicating that the supervisor 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).

The OHAP program provides successful applicants with renewable stipends for the duration of their training, recognizing the financial barriers to collaboration with industry and government. One Health, One Year A look back at OHAP's first year in action. From the moment our funding was received in May 2023, One Health Against Pathogens was taken from a grant proposal to a full-scale experiential training program in only four months. From the beginning, our first year in operation was lovingly known as our "learning year" — our opportunity to adjust and refine our activities to reflect the realities of running a multi-year, multi-million dollar training program spanning four major universities. Though it was not without its hiccups, our first year was also a time of great success. We developed a meaningful visual identity and robust web platform, delivered on all of our major programming, and attracted partnerships from the Smithsonian Institution to the highest rungs of the federal government. As a testament to our continued dedication to learning and improving, an exhaustive report and recommendations were prepared, outlining our plans to grow our programming, internal organization, communications, outreach, and recruitment. This report was largely based on the feedback and suggestions of our first cohort of trainees. We thank them for their endless patience, encouragement, and understanding. Here you can read our full Feedback Report and Recommendations Year One by the Numbers A snapshot of our first year, detailing our progress in recruitment and programming. Recruitment Our first cohort counted 17 students, with 13 more recruited for the 2024 cohort. An unexpected abundance of non-stipend and priorly funded applicants means we will likely be able to exceed our recruitment quotas, offering more opportunities to interested students than we initially hoped for. Skill Development Studios 11 skill development studios were offered throughout 2023-2024, with 86% average participation. Non-Academic Mentorships For our first cohort, 100% of our trainees were paired with non-academic mentors from the public sector. These mentors meet with trainees regularly to help guide their professional paths, exposing them to careers outside of academia. 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. Policy Solutions Three teams of our PhD trainees were asked to propose policy solutions to the following question: 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? 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 Student Spotlight Highlighting trainees who went above and beyond in their first year. Taylor Volappi Trainee Representative to our Steering Committee Cody Koloski Virtual Discussion Forum Organizer ☆ Perfect Attendance ☆ Gillian Cameron Audrey Corbeil Rafael Fernandes Ferreira Natalia Lorenc

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

Back Lawrence Goodridge, PhD Food-borne Pathogen Dynamics Professor, Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, is a Full Professor and Canada Research Chair in Foodborne Pathogen Dynamics in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He is also the Director of Guelph’s Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety. Dr. Goodridge applies genomics to study foodborne bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance within a One Health context. This objective is being achieved by combining phenotypic and genotypic (phenogenomics) methods to develop predictive models of virulence in foodborne pathogens. Specific research studies in support of the main objective include identifying mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, including the role that mobile genetic elements play in the spread of genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance and virulence amongst bacteria. Other research interests include identifying new antimicrobial compounds to control the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and the development genomic approaches for rapid detection of foodborne and waterborne bacterial and viral pathogens. Learn More

Back Qian (Vivian) Liu, PhD Viral Zoonoses Assistant Professor, Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) are infectious diseases that originate from animals and subsequently infect humans. RNA viruses are the primary etiological agents of human emerging pathogens, occupying up to 44% of all emerging human diseases. Paramyxoviruses are negative-stranded RNA viruses with great zoonotic potential. Members include established human pathogens (e.g. Measles virus) and emerging deadly zoonotic viruses (e.g. Nipah and Hendra viruses). My lab is interested in understanding the infection and transmission of zoonotic viruses in humans and animals. Specifically, we study the mechanisms of virus entry and assembly and how viruses hijack and/or evade host factors during these processes. By combining super-resolution imaging, novel fluorescence labelling, and optogenetic tools, we provide precise structural and behavioural information to dissect virus-host interactions during viral infection and transmission. Our research sheds light on novel antiviral development. Learn More