Global health a priority throughout Washington state

By Malinda Osborne

An artist's rendering depicts the new Washington State University School for Global Animal Health, which is in the final stages of development. (Courtesy of Washington State University)

Seattle has gained a reputation as a nexus of global health in recent years. About 315 miles away sits Pullman, home to Washington State University and its School for Global Health. Distance and a lack of formal communication limited the amount of collaboration between these two locations—that is, until recently.

The Seattle-based Washington Global Health Alliance, founded about two years ago, is a consortium of 10 global-health research and development institutions, of which WSU is a founding member.

Lisa Cohen, director of the alliance, said it formed in response to the lack of strategic collaboration among a thriving community of researchers and business persons dedicated to global health in the state.

"There was no formal way to communicate so they could leverage their skills more broadly," she said.

In particular, Cohen explained, WSU has been quite humble about its capabilities as an institution, perhaps because of its geographic isolation from fellow global-health contributors. She calls the university the best-kept secret in the state.

"They've quietly been doing this remarkable research and implementing programs overseas," Cohen said.

She gave the example of WSU's role in surveillance of infectious diseases such as avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Escherichia coli infection. Because more than 70 percent of emerging diseases are animal-borne, she said, the connection with human health is logical.

"Up to this point, it's often been very siloed. Researchers across disciplines haven't talked together," Cohen said. "Now we've got WSU and folks from PATH (an international, nonprofit organization that helps communities improve health and well-being) together working on safe water and infectious diseases and behavior modification."

The university's global health efforts have seen a boost in recent years thanks to the inception of the School for Global Animal Health. The idea of forming such a school began coalescing three years ago. Then, in spring 2008, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation bequeathed a $25 million grant for construction of the school's flagship building. A stipulation of the grant was that the university raise $10 million in matching funds. So far, about $6.2 million has been amassed.

"We expect to reach $10 million very shortly, and we are in the final stages of a conceptual space design for the building," said Dr. Terry F. McElwain, professor at the school and executive director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. "We feel like we're at a stage where we will be shovel-ready very shortly. We have a site picked out, and the general space design and allocation are almost completed."

Permanent operational funding now is available through an anonymous donation. The school has accepted its first students, one of whom is a Ugandan native, to its graduate program for this coming fall. School officials are in the process of establishing courses.

"Each student will be required to take policy courses," Dr. McElwain said. "An understanding of policy associated with significant health issues we face is important. They also gain a sense of what kind of data are necessary to guide sound policy decisions."

He said students will be working on projects that may have a substantial impact on animal and human health globally.

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	146th AVMA Annual Convention Daily News—Sunday, July 12, 2009—Seattle, WA Convention News > News headlines > WSU School for Global Animal Health Global health a priority throughout Washington state By Malinda Osborne An artist's rendering depicts the new Washington State University School for Global Animal Health, which is in the final stages of development. (Courtesy of Washington State University) Seattle has gained a reputation as a nexus of global health in recent years. About 315 miles away sits Pullman, home to Washington State University and its School for Global Health. Distance and a lack of formal communication limited the amount of collaboration between these two locations—that is, until recently. The Seattle-based Washington Global Health Alliance, founded about two years ago, is a consortium of 10 global-health research and development institutions, of which WSU is a founding member. Lisa Cohen, director of the alliance, said it formed in response to the lack of strategic collaboration among a thriving community of researchers and business persons dedicated to global health in the state. "There was no formal way to communicate so they could leverage their skills more broadly," she said. In particular, Cohen explained, WSU has been quite humble about its capabilities as an institution, perhaps because of its geographic isolation from fellow global-health contributors. She calls the university the best-kept secret in the state. "They've quietly been doing this remarkable research and implementing programs overseas," Cohen said. She gave the example of WSU's role in surveillance of infectious diseases such as avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and Escherichia coli infection. Because more than 70 percent of emerging diseases are animal-borne, she said, the connection with human health is logical. "Up to this point, it's often been very siloed. Researchers across disciplines haven't talked together," Cohen said. "Now we've got WSU and folks from PATH (an international, nonprofit organization that helps communities improve health and well-being) together working on safe water and infectious diseases and behavior modification." The university's global health efforts have seen a boost in recent years thanks to the inception of the School for Global Animal Health. The idea of forming such a school began coalescing three years ago. Then, in spring 2008, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation bequeathed a $25 million grant for construction of the school's flagship building. A stipulation of the grant was that the university raise $10 million in matching funds. So far, about $6.2 million has been amassed. "We expect to reach $10 million very shortly, and we are in the final stages of a conceptual space design for the building," said Dr. Terry F. McElwain, professor at the school and executive director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. "We feel like we're at a stage where we will be shovel-ready very shortly. We have a site picked out, and the general space design and allocation are almost completed." Permanent operational funding now is available through an anonymous donation. The school has accepted its first students, one of whom is a Ugandan native, to its graduate program for this coming fall. School officials are in the process of establishing courses. "Each student will be required to take policy courses," Dr. McElwain said. "An understanding of policy associated with significant health issues we face is important. They also gain a sense of what kind of data are necessary to guide sound policy decisions." He said students will be working on projects that may have a substantial impact on animal and human health globally. Return to previous page