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One Health : from molecule to population Utrecht University: creating impact in One Health

Utrecht University is one of Europe’s leading research universities and a member of the League of European Research Universities. It is recognised internationally for its high quality and innovative approach to research and education. Founded in 1636, the University has always placed a strong focus on excellent science and is now operating at the forefront of the international academic field. According to the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong), Utrecht University is ranked 57th in the world, 16th in Europe, and 1st in the .

With a population density of 406 people per km2 – 497 if The University is also home to the only of Veterinary water is excluded – the Netherlands is a small and very in the Netherlands. Given the intimate relationship densely populated country. Only Bangladesh, South Korea between animal and human health and the environment, and Taiwan have both a larger population and a higher the joint research programmes of the Faculty of Veterinary population density. Nevertheless, the Netherlands is the Medicine, the Faculty of Science and UMC Utrecht world's second largest exporter of food and agriculture constitute a unique centre of excellence for One Health/One products after the United States. Medicine. To generate impact, we have compiled a substantial and multidisciplinary One Health Programme as one of the main pillars of Utrecht University’s strategic research theme Life Sciences and the Utrecht Life Sciences network. Moreover, One Health is one of the drivers of the regional socio-economic agenda of the Economic Board Utrecht, with the aim of creating shared value for all stakeholders while simultaneously providing economic and societal benefit. In collaboration with our public and private partners, we focus on the prevention of and fight against existing and emerging infectious diseases – both in humans and animals – including zoonoses and food safety pathogens, on the prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance and on overcoming environmental risks.

Human and veterinary medicine are closely intertwined at Utrecht Science Park, emphasising basic biomedical Just imagine… research, the development of solutions, clinical care and the development of policy and legislation. This extends to areas such as vaccination technology, cell , biochemistry, • Almost 17 million people regenerative medicine and oncology. Insights from the field • 12 million pigs of veterinary medicine can serve as a source of innovation for human medicine and vice versa. By building bridges and • 97 million chickens working in public-private partnerships between academia and • 1.5 million dairy cows industry, Utrecht University is taking on its responsibility to find answers to the world’s grand challenges. • 1 million veal calves • 1 million fur animals • 6 million pets Utrecht Centre of Excellence for • 130,000 horses Affordable Biotherapeutics • A large wildlife population Utrecht University has established the Utrecht Centre of Excellence for Affordable Biotherapeutics Foundation …all living in close harmony in the Netherlands. (UCAB) which facilitates the development, production and distribution of high quality and affordable in developing countries. One of the tasks is the transfer The health of both humans and animals, sharing the same of technology to private parties who produce the limited space and with competing claims on sustainable medicines under the auspices of the World Health animal production, must be considered as a grand challenge Organisation. The first medicine that UCAB is focusing on for the near future. Utrecht University has been playing a is palivizumab, a drug for a serious respiratory infection major role in preventing and overcoming One Health risks in (RS virus) that primarily affects premature infants. UCAB the Netherlands and will be pleased to share its experiences, will be located at the Utrecht Science Park. know-how and facilities with the world. RESEARCH FOCUS: One THEMES: health

Infectious diseases

Beneficial microbes Public health Science for life Antimicrobial Studying the building resistance blocks of life Environmental safety

Cancer Food & health Cardiovascular research

Translational neuroscience Regenerative medicine & stem cells

Healthcare innovation From molecule to population

Controlling infectious Challenging antimicrobial Famous collection diseases resistance of fungi, yeasts, and Infectious diseases pose a major Micro-organisms are a constant bacteria problem for both human and animal challenge to human and animal health, health. In the near future possibly generally treated with antimicrobial The Fungal Biodiversity Centre 75% of all infectious diseases will be of therapies. However, the increase in (CBS-KNAW) hosts a world- zoonotic origin (transmitted from antimicrobial resistance poses one of renowned collection of more than animals to humans) or vector-borne. the major risks to health care 80,000 living fungi, yeasts and bacteria. In our One Health Programme we worldwide. In Utrecht we try to In its diversity of species it is unrivalled try to prevent and intervene in the unravel the mechanisms behind the as a reference centre for mycological introduction and transmission of development of antimicrobial research. Fungi may cause diseases of existing and emerging zoonoses resistance and the spread of plants, animals and people. The Fungal (e.g. avian influenza). There is still a lot antimicrobial resistant genes, including Biodiversity Centre conducts that can be improved in relation to the transmission of resistant pathogens innovative mycological research, controlling the risks associated with between humans and animals. This examines fungal properties and current and future infectious diseases, knowledge is essential to interventions. develops novel fungal applications and both in humans and animals. In this Utrecht University is a leader in the solutions to societal challenges based respect Utrecht University advocates molecular epidemiology of on the fungi’s unique genetic the development and application of antimicrobial resistance and the resources. The centre’s large collection dedicated vaccines, smart interventions development of alternatives to and metadata are used intensively by and safe and effective therapeutics. antimicrobials, such as vaccines and the public and private parties. use of microbes beneficial to the health and wellbeing of humans and animals. SCIENTIFIC DOMAINS: SOLUTIONS: TARGETS:

Signaling, surveillance, monitoring Food safety Diagnostics Human Emerging (zoonotic) health infections Vaccines

Healthy feed and food Infection Infection biology dynamics

Animal Microbial health ecosystem

Alternatives for antibiotics

Molecular epidemiology

Discovery Food Fungal security biodiversity Therapeutics Molecular and clinical life sciences Interventions

School of Environmental health Veterinary School

Wildlife health Risk assessment

Sustainable Toxicology health

Health risks from Vaccines against Alternatives to antibiotics livestock farming zoonoses The innate immune systems of Residents of urban areas living close Collaboration between the worlds of humans and animals provide the first to livestock farming may be exposed to veterinary and human health, both barrier of defence against pathogens. potentially harmful infectious and drug academically, governmentally and The immune system is ready to be resistant micro-organisms, as well as industrially, is extremely important for mobilized upon the first signs of gases and dust particles containing the control of zoonoses. According to infection and plays a vital role in host toxins. What are the health risks for Utrecht University researchers, in defence. ALTANT (ALTernatives to people working at or living near a pig many cases humans can best be ANTibiotics) is a collaborative or poultry farm? There is little scientific protected by vaccinating animals. research programme between information about environmental Castellum is a large public-private academic and business partners that is health effects for neighbouring partnership that develops marketable helping to develop new alternatives residents, but the available vaccines against emerging zoonoses. to antibiotic use in veterinary health suggests several potential health risks, Castellum’s partners are the National care. ALTANT brings together a such as zoonoses, the spread of Institute for Public Health and the multidisciplinary, high calibre research antimicrobial resistance and respiratory Environment, MSD Animal Health, team to investigate the use of new problems due to fine particles. In Utrecht University and the Central classes of peptides that have shown Utrecht we investigate the risks of Veterinary Institute. Castellum also to have profound antimicrobial and environmental exposure to livestock features in the realisation of the immunomodulatory effects. Partners farming emissions in the Netherlands necessary research infrastructure in the of ALTANT are the Faculty of and the possibilities for intervention. Netherlands (Biosafety Level 3, large Veterinary Medicine, ImmunoValley, animal facilities and laboratories). Zoetis and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Perstorp PARTNER OVERVIEW

Topigs-Norsvin

Mucosis

ForFarmers Hendrix

Hendrix Genetics IDEXX

GD Animal Health Elanco National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)

Academic Medical Centrum Abbott VU University Amsterdam Artemis Research Institute for Wildlife Health

VU University Medical Center Mead Johnson Nutrition

Merck

Zoetis

Cobbs Delft University of Technology CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Center Medical Center

TNO Innovation for Life Pfizer Erasmus University Rotterdam

University Medical Center Rotterdam Radboud University Nijmegen

Maastricht University Radboud University Medical Center

Eindhoven University of Technology HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht

CRV Intravacc

Philips Healthcare DSM

Genmab Utrecht Science Park Lohmann

Royal Friesland Campina Bilthoven Biologicals

LTO Unilever

Merial Danone Nutricia Research Boehringer Ingelheim

MSD Animal Health Onderste Poort

Combatting bacterial Antimicrobial resistance Wildlife health in the resistance in Europe in bacteria Netherlands Antimicrobial resistance represents a Utrecht University’s EFFORT The Dutch Wildlife Health Centre growing threat to human and animal project (Ecology from Farm to Fork (DWHC) helps to enhance knowledge health worldwide and, consequently, of microbial drug resistance and and expertise in wildlife health in the there is an urgent need for new transmission) studies antimicrobial Netherlands. Infections and diseases in medicines to treat resistant infections. resistance in bacteria, which is currently wild animals may be transmitted to The COMBACTE project one of the main threats to public humans or other animals and vice (Combatting Bacterial Resistance in health. Academic and business partners versa. The DWHC, founded in 2002 Europe) boosts antibiotic drug from ten countries are working with support of the Ministry of development by pioneering new ways together in the EFFORT project to Economic Affairs and the Ministry of of designing and implementing provide the animal production sectors Health, Welfare and Sport, is located at efficient clinical trials for novel and policymakers with evidence-based Utrecht’s Faculty of Veterinary antibiotics. COMBACTE is part of the information about antimicrobial Medicine. The DWHC conducts an New Drugs for Bad Bugs (ND4BB) resistance. This will ultimately support extensive early warning and initiative, a large European programme sustainable animal production with surveillance programme and provides to tackle antimicrobial resistance. minimal risk to public health. essential information for the Dutch signalling infrastructure. The centre provides scientific information to assist political and practical decision-making concerning public health, wild and domestic animal health and nature conservation issues. Facts and figures 2014

Utrecht University University Medical Center Utrecht

ORGANISATION EDUCATION BUDGET 7 Faculties: 30,000 students €1,060 million

Geosciences, , , 1,700 international students STAFF and Governance Medicine, Science, Social Total number of staff members: 11,210 and Behavioural Sciences, Veterinary 120 nationalities Medicine 2,600 PhD candidates 7 Graduate Schools PATIENT CARE More than 2,000 courses taught in English Number of beds: 1,042 4 Campuses The widest range of graduate programmes Admissions: 31,924 6,500 staff members taught in English in the Netherlands Europe’s largest academic summer school Days of care: 233,985 (excl. the Faculty of Medicine/UMC Utrecht and the staff of Roosevelt Academy or casual Daycare: 31,924 workers) INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS According to the 2014 Academic Ranking Operations: 21,633 of World Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong): BUDGET 57th in the world Outpatient first clinic visits: 131,649 €766 million 16th in Europe Accident & Emergency visits: 21,343 Member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) a partnership of 1st in the Netherlands Europe’s top research universities that includes the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, , SOME OF OUR Heidelberg, Sorbonne-Paris and others LAUREATES (www.leru.org). 1999 Gerard ‘t Hooft (Physics) FOUNDED 1999 Martinus J.G. Veltman () 1636 1995 Paul Josef Crutzen () 1981 (Physics) 19 75 Tjalling Charles Koopmans (Economics)

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UTRECHT LIFE SCIENCES UTRECHT SCIENCE PARK COLOFON Freek van Muiswinkel Friso Smit March 2015 Yalelaan 7 Heidelberglaan 11 Production: Utrecht University 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands Photography: Ivar Pel and others +31 30 253 4560 +31 30 253 5551 Design: WAT ontwerpers [email protected] [email protected] The information in this brochure www.utrechtlifesciences.nl www.utrechtsciencepark.nl has been compiled with the utmost care but no rights can be derived from its contents.