"One Health - more than just a slogan"
With these clear words Prof. Dr. Jakob Zinsstag (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute) began his presentation at the National Symposium on Zoonoses Research 2017 in front of more than 370 participants and provided vivid examples of the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation. Further keynotes and presentations on important topics and results of zoonoses research followed in the period from 12 to 13 October - among others on Borna viruses, the role of anthropogenic changes in ecosystems in the spread of zoonoses and the Global Health Security Agenda.
The symposium, which has been held every year since 2007, was able to demonstrate high visitor numbers and great attractiveness in the national and international community of zoonoses research in 2017. With the presentation of the new BMBF-funded research network on zoonotic infectious diseases and its junior research groups, this symposium also set the course for future joint cooperation between the zoonoses platform and the research network. But also the BMBEL- and BMG-funded projects were considered in a separate session, thus providing an up-to-date overview of the diversity of zoonoses research in Germany.
In the parallel sessions Novel Methods, Diagnostics and NGS, Pathogen-cell interaction, Antimicrobial Use and Resistance, Risk Assessment, Epidemiology and Modelling, New and emerging zoonoses and Public Health and Social Issues of Zoonoses Research, both the scientific aspect of the symposium and ÖGD-relevant topics were taken into account. This was rounded off by the keynote speeches of established national and international scientists such as Prof. Dr. Simone Sommer (University of Ulm), Prof. Dr. Mika Salminen (National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland), Prof. Dr. Keizo Tomonaga (University Kyōto, Japan) and the already mentioned Prof. Dr. Jakob Zinsstag.
As a special feature this year, a lecture by Dr. David Bardens (General Practitioner, Sweden) was held as part of the evening event, which was very well received by all participants with its humorous and original style.
The promotion of young scientists was also an important part of the symposium this year. In addition to the high percentage of young scientists among the 36 lectures and 112 posters, the very popular Junior Scientist Breakfast and the awarding of the poster awards to the authors of particularly outstanding posters among the submissions of the young scientists should be mentioned in this context. First place went to Leonie Forth of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, second place to Francesca Torelli, third place to Martin Kraft (both Robert Koch-Institute).
With its thematic breadth and depth, the successful "National Symposium on Zoonoses Research 2017" once again underlined the national and global importance of interdisciplinary zoonoses research.
The Symposium 2018 will again bring the global research community together in Berlin and address current research results and challenges - then even on three days! True to the mission of the zoonoses platform: zoonoses research. Interdisciplinary. Networked.
Internal Advisory Board of the Zoonoses Platform newly elected
The annual general meeting of the Zoonoses Platform with election of the Internal Advisory Board also took place during the symposium. The following persons were elected:
• Three representatives of BMEL- or BMG-funded zoonoses associations:
o PD Dr. Helge Kampen
o Prof. Dr. Uwe Rösler
o Prof. Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
• Five other representatives of zoonoses research:
o Prof. Dr. Sascha Al-Dahouk
o PD Dr. Sandra Eßbauer
o Dr. Fabian Leendertz
o Prof. Dr. Christian Menge
o Prof. Dr. Martin Pfeffer
• A representative for young scientists (already elected in June at the Junior Scientist Zoonoses Meeting 2017)
o Dr. Shari Fell
The other members of the current Internal Advisory Board are listed here.
Program
Abstract volume
Picture gallery