Skip to main content

office aims to strengthen relationships

“Our modern agricultural economy is highly dependent upon two things: freedom from disease and trade,” said Melissa Berquist, director of the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases. “Following the outbreak of an infectious livestock or poultry disease, the ability to efficiently implement science-based standards and demonstrate freedom from disease is imperative to limiting the loss of revenue, ensuring safe trade and protecting food security. Better understanding global animal health and zoonotic threats improves preparedness, prevention and response. Supporting the development of science-based standards and providing effective tools and training for disease surveillance, control and eradication is at the core of IIAD’s mission.”

The World Organisation for Animal Health officially opened the OIE’s U.S.-based liaison office in College Station, Texas. The office will be co-located with and hosted by the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases—a member of The Texas A&M University System and an OIE Collaborating Centre in the specialty of biological threat reduction.

As an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health and welfare worldwide, the OIE oversees the regulation of international markets is recognized by the World Trade Organization the standard-setting body for animal health regulatory activities.

“I’m happy to welcome the OIE to the Texas A&M campus and look forward to consistent engagement,” said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “We are glad to give the world broad access to our experts in agriculture, veterinary medicine and research.”

“The opening of a liaison office is a first for the organisation”, explains Jean-Phillippe Dop, DVM, OIE deputy director general, who attended the official opening. “This new U.S.-based office will open additional lines of communication between the OIE and U.S. veterinary and public health parties—allowing for better collaboration when it comes to disaster preparedness, emergency planning and animal disease surveillance.”

Traditionally, permanent official relations with the OIE Member Countries as well as international and regional organisations are maintained through the official National Delegate and the 12 Regional and Sub-Regional Representations, covering every continent. While the OIE Liaison office does not change any traditional communication channels, the office will provide new avenues for high-level engagement with U.S. government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector constituents. This strengthened relationship with US animal production stakeholders is expected to reinforce the understanding of the OIE international Standards at the national level, as well as an increased appreciation of the importance and challenges of global animal health transparency.

Designated as an OIE Collaborating Centre in 2014, IIAD provides its expertise internationally to support and implement animal health initiatives, provide scientific and technical training and conduct scientific research focused on global animal health.

“Both OIE and IIAD have a long-standing practice of working in partnership with existing organizations in academia, government and private industry—we each believe animal health is best advanced by assisting, coordinating and making use of the activities of existing resources and infrastructure when possible” Berquist said. “By co-locating their U.S. Liaison Office in College Station, OIE has not only built upon its previous relationship with IIAD, but also gained wider access to a premier research institution that complements OIE’s science-based standards. With proven partnerships, the establishment of this office is sure to bring new and exciting opportunities to all parties.”

The Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases focuses on research, education and outreach to prevent, detect, mitigate and recover from transboundary, emerging and/or zoonotic diseases, which may be introduced intentionally or through natural processes. IIAD is a member of the Texas A&M University System, a World Organisation for Animal Health Collaborating Centre in the specialty of biological threat reduction and a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Emeritus Center of Excellence.www.lastdon.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

‘It’s all about relationships and being that positive role model for the kids that need us the most’

MANCHESTER, NH  – Memorial High School Principal Arthur L. Adamakos said this past school year by far has been the most challenging in his 41-year-career with the Manchester School District. Adamakos this week reflected on his career with the Manchester School District now that his June 30th retirement is in sight. The COVID-19 pandemic upended the school year, resulting in remote learning since March and the cancellation of proms, award ceremonies and class trips.  And there is still no word on how the city’s four high schools will celebrate graduations. “My goal is to have a physical graduation, not a virtual one,” he said.  “That’s what I have been campaigning for.  Still, we’re going to have to practice social distancing.”  And administrators must figure out how to deliver diplomas.  “That could be interesting so there’s a lot to be discussed.  It’s in progress,” he said. It is important for the seniors but Adamakos is looking forward to it as well.  After all, a retiring educator’
Read more

The best advice for the three most common coronavirus relationship issues

Since the coronavirus pandemic started, many of us have spent an extra 40 hours per week at home with our partners. That’s 2,400 additional minutes in each other’s space. We’ve picked up 97 of our spouse’s empty seltzer cans and conjugated hundreds of French verbs for our children, since school is closed and we’re now school. But who’s counting? We are. And that counting — whether it’s the number of times you did the laundry or how many Zoom meetings were interrupted by a child in underpants asking for Goldfish — kindles the flame that can reduce a relationship to ashes. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advice about how we can defend our bodies, but what’s going to protect the health of our relationships? Soap and water won’t work: Divorce filings have spiked in China, and we’re now seeing similar reports in New York City. We’d be kidding ourselves to think that this isn’t going to spread across the nation, even as states begin to reopen. We need to take pro
Read more

Feeling Trapped or Abandoned: When Relationships Run Hot or Cold

By nature, humans are wired for connection. We seek out others to share our lives with, with the goal of forming lasting and intimate bonds. So feeling trapped or abandoned in an intimate relationship shouldn’t be a common thing, should it? Actually, these experiences are common for partners who wind up repeating cycles within intimate relationships that they may be unaware of. Feeling trapped or abandoned are commonly seen in the push-pull dynamic found in unhealthy relationships; both styles often represent two sides of the same coin. Engulfment and Abandonment Defined Fear of being engulfed, or  trapped,  is often indicated as feeling smothered, or in losing one’s autonomy within the relationship. People who report feeling trapped may try controlling their partner through hostile withdrawal, emotional indifference, cheating or otherwise punishing the partner, up to and including, abandoning them. Fear of being  abandoned  is often indicated as being afraid to be alone, or fearing be
Read more