CROSS-CUTTING AREAS By Wanda Markotter of the Future Africa platform, University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa, and UP’s Centre for Viral Zoonoses in the Department of Medical Virology It is an established consortium of 10 universities – the University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of the Western Cape, University of Limpopo, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, University of Fort Hare, University of the Witwatersrand and University of Venda – and features partnerships with the Agricultural Research Council, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the SA National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) and SA National Parks (Sanparks), to name a few. The six thematic centres align with the action tracks and cross-cutting themes: Thematic centre 1: Prevention of pandemics with a focus on early-warning systems Thematic centre 2: Epidemiology of endemic and emerging pathogens Thematic centre 3: Preclinical development of timely interventions Thematic centre 4: Clinical research Thematic centre 5: Resilient health systems Thematic centre 6: Responsive communities and agile service-provision systems Two integrated platforms will work together to provide essential tools, systems and frameworks that support research. Research and innovation Research and innovation (R&I) is critical in One Health approaches, as it allows role players involved in interdisciplinary collaboration to understand, monitor and mitigate complex health threats at the humananimal-ecosystem interface. It drives evidence-based surveillance, aids the development of novel diagnostics and creates sustainable, cross-sectoral interventions for diseases, antimicrobial resistance and environmental threats. Key roles of R&I in One Health Disease surveillance and early warning: R&I facilitates the development of advanced tools and technologies for detecting pathogens in wildlife, domestic animals and the environment before they spill over into human populations. Interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated data analyses: Research initiatives bring together several disciplines to analyse the drivers of disease, such as climate change and land-use change. Developing new solutions: Innovation leads to new diagnostic tools, vaccines and treatments Evidence-based policies: Research provides datadriven evidence for policymakers, enabling, for example, better food safety standards and risk communication Capacity building and systems strengthening: R&I initiatives strengthen networks for better data sharing, capacity building in laboratories, and institutionalising the One Health approach. Examples of ongoing research are evident across academic institutions and research institutes in South Africa. The recently established Institute for the Preparedness and Prevention of Pandemics by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation in partnership with the National Research Foundation provides a structure to align with research initiatives. 23
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