As new infectious diseases emerge, antibiotic resistance grows and diseases spread more easily between animals and people, scientists around the world are increasingly turning to one approach to better protect global health: One Health.

One Health recognizes a simple but powerful truth: the health of people, animals and the environment are deeply connected.

Whether responding to avian influenza, Ebola, mpox, COVID-19 or the growing threat of New World screwworm, many of today’s biggest health challenges cannot be solved by human medicine alone. They require collaboration across veterinary medicine, biomedical research, environmental science, public health and agriculture.

At Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed), this interconnected approach is central to advancing discoveries that protect both human and animal health.

What is One Health?

One Health is a collaborative approach that recognizes that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected.

More than 60% of known infectious diseases in people can spread between animals and humans, and approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals before crossing into human populations. Climate change, expanding urbanization, global travel and habitat disruption are increasing opportunities for these diseases to emerge.

Rather than treating human, animal and environmental health as separate issues, One Health brings together experts across multiple disciplines to understand disease transmission, develop new diagnostics, vaccines and treatments, and prevent future outbreaks before they become global threats.

Why is One Health important?

Recent outbreaks have demonstrated how closely connected our world has become.

Diseases like Ebola, COVID-19, avian influenza and mpox all illustrate how infections can move between animals and humans with significant consequences for public health and economies.

Today, One Health is also helping address emerging challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, food security, vector-borne diseases and invasive agricultural pests, including the New World screwworm, which threatens livestock, wildlife and economic stability.

By studying diseases before they spread widely, scientists can develop medical countermeasures faster and improve preparedness for future public health emergencies.

How Texas Biomed advances One Health

For more than 85 years, Texas Biomed has conducted research at the intersection of human and animal health.

The Institute’s scientists study some of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases while working alongside experts in comparative medicine, genomics, immunology and translational science. Texas Biomed’s unique research infrastructure—including the nation’s only privately owned Biosafety Level 4 laboratory—allows researchers to safely investigate pathogens that pose significant risks to global health.

This work supports the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics while strengthening national biodefense and pandemic preparedness.

Texas Biomed also collaborates with universities, government agencies, biotechnology companies and global research organizations to accelerate discoveries that benefit both people and animals.

One Health in action

One Health is more than a scientific concept—it’s an approach that delivers real-world solutions.

For example, efforts to combat New World screwworm require expertise from veterinary medicine, entomology, agriculture, wildlife management and biomedical research. Protecting livestock ultimately helps safeguard food systems, local economies and public health.

Similarly, research on emerging viruses often begins with understanding how diseases circulate in animal populations before they infect people. These insights help scientists identify risks earlier and develop vaccines and treatments before outbreaks become widespread.

Looking ahead

As infectious diseases continue to evolve, One Health will become even more important.

Preparing for future biological threats requires investment in research, collaboration across scientific disciplines and strong partnerships between public health, agriculture, government and industry.

By bringing together experts from multiple fields, One Health offers one of the most effective strategies for protecting people, animals and the environment alike.

A perspective from Texas Biomed

“Many of today’s most significant health challenges exist at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health. A One Health approach brings together expertise across scientific disciplines to better understand disease, strengthen preparedness and accelerate discoveries that protect communities around the world. Our recent collaboration with Flyttr highlights that the work at Texas Biomed collaboration is fundamental to advancing science that improves health for both people and animals.” — Larry Schlesinger, M.D., President and CEO, Texas Biomedical Research Institute