WISE Program for One Health Frontier Graduate School of Excellence

This is an educational program supported by extensive university disciplines, including veterinary medicine, infectious disease medicine, medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, health science and environmental science, as well as collaborative international administrative/cooperative organizations, partner universities and private companies.

 

 

   The development of preventive and curative medicine and the promotion of preventive measures have made it possible to control certain infectious diseases. At the same time, however, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have successively occurred, posing a threat to humankind. In addition, health hazards to people and animals due to chemical substances and the destruction of the ecosystem constantly occur as people enjoy the conveniences of life. These problems occur beyond national boundaries. We now have a mission to promote a healthy environment of people and animals from damaging hazards (infectious agents and chemicals) and preserve a sustainable and healthy biosphere and ecosystem for future generations.
   The One Health Frontier Graduate School of Excellence, promoted by Hokkaido University’s Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine and Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, produces experts with a clear philosophy of disease control and prevention and a balanced international perspective who can see the health of animals, people and the ecosystem from a higher point of view and who can design and implement solutions involving One Health (professionals with knowledge and technological expertise).

 

 

What is One Health?

   The concept of One Health originates in the 19th century idea of “zoonosis” introduced by German pathologist Rudolf Virchow. The necessity of the One Health approach, an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort by multiple sectors to control zoonoses and maintain the health of the ecosystems, was proposed in the 2004 Manhattan Principles of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The concept of One Health has since evolved, and further collaboration between medicine and veterinary medicine is needed from the perspective of Zoobiquity, which highlights how collaboration between medicine and veterinary medicine leads to the improved health of people and animals because of their commonalities in diseases.