ILRI bioscience hub to support international One Health research consortium

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Details: Written on Wednesday, 26 July 2017 08:41

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub is set to be the centre for training and capacity strengthening in a new international One Health initiative.

ILRI's state-of-the art biosciences hub will be used in the implementation of the GBP 7.7 million grant to University of Liverpool to increase capacity for ‘One Health’ research in the Horn of Africa. The One Health Regional Network for the Horn of Africa (HORN) project led by University of Liverpool brings together partners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea. The program will deepen existing University of Liverpool and ILRI links, already well established through several joint UK Research Council projects.

Livestock play a critical role in the economies of low- and middle-income countries where up to three-quarters of a billion of the poorest people rely on livestock farming and products to make a living. However, livestock also pose human health risks because their ability to transmit infectious diseases.

Project-lead Professor Matthew Baylis, from University of Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, said:

‘Our hope is to understand better the health links between people, animals and the environment. This should lead to improved nutrition, less risk of new diseases emerging from animals, and more prosperity… as well as a strong system in place for conducting further research.’

The grant has been awarded by the Research Councils UK (RCUK) from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Growing Research Capability call which aims to build upon research knowledge in the UK, and strengthen local capacity to address priority challenges in the developing countries.

The project will start in October 2017 and will run for four years.

Read full story: 'One Health’ research awarded £7.7million from Global Challenges Research Fund