Institutional links
Developing an Animal Health Science Agenda
for the National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS)
Backgrounder
February 15th, 2008
Prepared by TDV Global Inc.
| <1. Background | Table of Contents | 3. Strategic Direction> |
2.0 Commonalities for Future Animal Health Science
In November 2007, a Working Group on Future Animal Health Science Workshop identified major animal health science requirements arising from each of the future scenarios (i.e. what animal health science would be required in these future scenarios given influence of drivers, trends, and technology). Across the five future scenarios, participants then determined commonalities for future animal health science (see Annex C). An analysis of these common future science requirements resulted in the identification of Science Themes and fundamental Guiding Principles for the future.
2.1 Themes
Animal Health Science was defined by the WG to include Research, Surveillance, Diagnostics, Risk Analysis, and Emergency Preparedness and Response, were examined from the perspectives of Organization, People, Technology and Processes. As a result of the Workshop discussion, specific future science Themes began to emerge, which are outlined in the table below:
OrganizationIntegrated Networks – For effective animal health science activities, broad, horizontal, integrated networks (which include small and large-scale producers, animal and public health communities, regulators and consumers) will be required to monitor parameters that measure animal health, facilitate interoperability, support global animal health intelligence and establish the foundation for systems-based science. Enhanced Inter-Organizational Understanding of Risk Pathways – Increased knowledge and engagement of experts from multiple disciplines (e.g., wildlife specialists, social scientists, modellers, etc) within an integrated animal health science network will result in a better understanding of the factors that contribute to animal health and how to measure the health of animal populations. A key result will be improved risk mitigation strategies across the animal health - public health interface. |
PeopleInnovative Approaches to Training – Traditional approaches to training in science and technology does not deliver the range of skills necessary to tackle the breadth of future issues relevant to animal health science. Encouragement of interdisciplinary approaches to training, more opportunities for scientists and technologists to broaden skill sets and diversify their knowledge bases, and international exchanges of knowledge and expertise will all help to address this problem and contribute to the development of coherent strategies across traditional sectors. Broader Range of Contributing Agencies – Future science systems will need to integrate effectively within the wider animal health systems and infrastructure, and this would include a stronger role for industry. From monitoring animal populations to applying control strategies during an animal health event, industry occupies a critical position in animal health management. Future technology will facilitate industry’s ability to conduct monitoring surveillance and other data gathering activities in support of animal health. |
TechnologyUtilization of Innovative Real-time and Multi-point Monitoring Technologies – Increased monitoring will be a basic requirement of future animal health science. Monitoring, applied to individual and populations of animals, will be necessary for internal feedback and decision making within, and across better organized and integrated animal health science systems. New monitoring technologies and methods will help reduce costs and will be simpler and easier to use (e.g., implantable nano devices, remote sensing coupled with disease modelling, etc). Enhanced Traceability – Consumers will demand science and technology-based tracking of foods of animal origin back to source in order to provide a detailed record of animal husbandry, welfare and nutritional status. Enhanced levels will be essential to the maintenance of public confidence in the food system. |
ProcessesCommon Standards Development – Effective management of future animal health will be contingent upon science-based multi-stakeholder agreement in areas such as interoperability3, quality assurance, technical standards, data protocols, and systems of regulation and governance. Input will be required from information technology companies, diagnostic developers and animal health management stakeholders in the development of common standards. There will be a need to establish common standards for managing large volumes of data, such as genomic datasets. Emergency Preparedness and Response – There will be enhanced emphasis on science-based emergency preparedness and management processes to address emerging animal health threats and biosecurity concerns. Effective emergency management capabilities at the local level will be important in maintaining to public confidence. |
2.2 Guiding Principles
Workshop discussions on future animal health science themes revealed fundamental principles that should guide people and organizations in developing strategic directions for future science to ensure common requirements are met in the future. Guiding principles that emerged at the workshop include:
- Inter-disciplinarity – Future animal health issues faced by Canadians will be determined by a complex multitude of factors such as human demography and behaviour, land use and agriculture, travel and trade, climate, social trends and economics, governance systems, animal and public health policies, public attitudes, natural disasters and national security. Animal health science that is needed to support the management of these issues must be multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary in order to integrate diverse perspectives and broad skill sets.
- Team Approach – A team-based approach to animal health science will be required to promote cooperation and collaboration. Teams will need to be formed that also draw upon human health and environmental science expertise (i.e., meta-scientists). Interdisciplinary research programs, which tend to cross existing institutional partitions, require a team approach to be effective.
- Rapid Response – Public and private sector organizations need to be able to initiate action quickly to respond to evolving situations without the need for centralized direction. Frontline leadership is required in responding decisively to threats as they are encountered. Future diagnostics, monitoring and response systems will need to be embedded in local systems of culture and governance if they are to be practical and effective, complementing an overarching national approach.
- Global Perspective – Globalized economies and increasing trade have given rise to a global health paradigm where animal and public health threat are not so easily contained by borders and continental boundaries. Emerging and existing threats to animal health are global concerns and activities such as risk analysis, surveillance and intelligence must be global in nature.
- Interoperability – The ability to interoperate must be a feature of how organizations, people and technology work together. Future animal health science requires science-based stakeholders to work in a concerted and proactive manner. Similarly, future technologies such as hand-held diagnostic devices and information systems must be able to communicate in a seamless fashion and operate across varied platforms.
- Prevention and Early Warning – Future animal health will require robust science-based mechanisms for surveillance and intelligence to prevent or respond rapidly to threats to animal health. Trusted early warning systems that are local, real-time and diverse will be required to detect emerging threats and inform an effective preparedness and prevention system.
- Societal Concerns – Animal health science will be expected to contribute significantly to animal welfare, environmentally sustainable systems and the monitoring of those elements.
3. (Return)Interoperability is the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together (inter-operate).
These documents are works in progress. The substantive content is for discussion purposes and reflects initial perspectives of officials in the National Animal Health Strategy. They will evolve and improve with feedback from readers. These documents do not represent the position of the Government of Canada.