Introduction

Southeast Asia is a hotspot for endangered biodiversity and emerging infectious diseases. The region combines the effects of demographic dynamics (urbanization, aging populations), economic dynamics (economic corridors and integration into globalization), environmental dynamics (climate disruption, atmospheric pollution, biodiversity loss), changes in land use (agricultural intensification, extension of commercial plantations) and insufficiently reasoned use of biocides (pesticides, antibiotics). Since 2008, a series of collaborative projects have focused on the links between changes in habitats, biodiversity and health (zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, emergence of antibiotic resistance), with a series of ANR-funded projects: CERoPath (2008-2012), ANR CP&ES BiodivHealthSEA (2012-2016), FutureHealthSEA (2017-2022), ANR FarmResist (2018-2022).

The International research laboratory HealthDEEP manages, on behalf of CNRS, the international coordination (biodiversity and zoonosis prevention) of the PREZODE PEPR (2024-2027) as well as PREACTS ASAMCO (Prezode-Afd) (2024-2028) on behalf of IRD.

MISSION AND RESEARCH THEMES

HealthDEEP’s objectives are to :

• foster multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations on the transmission of diseases at the wildlife / livestock / environment interface in One Health approach through the development of collaborative research projects;
• contribute to the development of landscape- and nature-based solutions for integrated territorial strategies, in close collaboration with communities and local authorities, in a context of climate change;
• strengthen dialogue in Global Health / One Health / Planetary Health between science and public policy at local, national and international levels, notably through involvement with international organizations (IUCN, FAO, WHO, WHOSA, UNEP, UNDP) or regional organizations (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance, Southeast Asian One Health University Network).

HealthDEEP research themes are: Biodiversity, Societies, Ecology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Health geography, Public policy and governance of biodiversity and health, One health, Planetary health.

MAIN PROJECTS OF RESEARCH

1. Thailand International Cooperation Agency “Innovative Animal Health“: 2019 – 2025

PI: Serge Morand

The “Innovative Animal Health” project aims to improve animal health capabilities through the development of innovative tools for detecting and preventing health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. The project pursues the following strategies:

• development of innovative research to optimize co-benefits in terms of biodiversity and health;
• development of pilot participatory socio-eco-epidemiological surveys, capitalizing on the experience of past and current projects (infectious diseases associated with wildlife and domestic animals, infectious and parasitic diseases associated with water or food, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance);
• development of new tools for screening and surveillance systems, involving participatory participation (community science and local experts);
• development of new tools to better anticipate and prevent emerging health threats in Thailand and more generally in Southeast Asia;
• development of research on traditional veterinary knowledge contributing to innovative animal medicine in compliance with the Nagoya Protocol;
• development of the implementation of the One Health approach by participating in the elaboration of a common framework for the prevention of health risks at the interfaces between humans, domestic animals and wildlife.

The “Innovative Animal Health” project brings together French experts from CNRS, CIRAD and IRD.

2. CNRS MITI “One URban Health (OUR-HEALTH)” : 2024 – 2026

PI: Eric Denis.

Co-PIs: Olivier Telle, Serge Morand.

The MITI OURHealth project (Study on urbanization and the emergence of animal-borne pathogens in the “invisible” health spaces of Indian and Thai cities) aims to examine the link between urbanization and the emergence of animal-borne pathogens in urban areas that are often neglected by public policies, but which present risk factors for the spread of these pathogens.

More specifically, this project has two main objectives:

• Identifying the spaces and processes linked to subaltern urbanization, i.e. the rapid transformation of initially rural territories outside the jurisdiction of urban authorities, but which bring together all the risk factors favouring the spread of pathogens.
• To analyze the links between epidemic management at national, regional and municipal levels, in order to study biases in the surveillance, prevention and treatment of cases.

3. ASAMCO (PREZODE – PREACTS – AFD) Thailand and Laos : 2024 – 2028

PIs: Serge Morand (CNRS for IRD) and Soawapak Hinjoy (Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand).

Partners: DDC MoPH Thailand, Dpt of Communicable Disease Control Ministry of Health Laos, Centre Infectiologie Mérieux Laos, AVSF, WCS, WWF.

The main objective of this project is to develop innovative approaches to prevent/mitigate the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases at the socio-ecosystemic level and at wildlife interfaces. The project will explore the local context of zoonotic disease prevention in relation to land use change (including reforestation), climate change and wildlife conservation and use (including human-wildlife conflicts). This objective will have an impact on strengthening the involvement of the environmental sector and disciplines in the implementation of the One Health approach.

In order to achieve the project’s objectives, several activities will be carried out:

• Identification of wildlife interfaces and analysis of gaps in zoonotic disease risk prevention (wildlife value chain, land use change, domestic animal management, reforestation, ecological corridors, economic corridors, urbanization, etc.).
• Mapping of relevant past and current projects.
• Identification of gaps in policy and legislation concerning wildlife and zoonotic disease risks.
• Development of a theory of change (ToC) to prevent/mitigate zoonotic risks at ecosystem level: targets, pathways, indicators and impacts.
•  Implementing innovative actions to prevent, mitigate and monitor zoonotic diseases at local sites (local communities and administrations).

4. PEPR PREZODE Gouvernance : 2024 – 2028

PIs: Benjamin Roche (IRD), Thomas Balenghien (Cirad), Christine Citti (Inrae)

Partners: CNRS, Pasteur Network, CEA, Institut Pasteur, INSERM, ANSES, MNHN, CNES, universities network.

PEPR Prezode plans to hold three regional workshops in key regions to be determined by the international steering committee (e.g., Latin America, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia). Hosted by CNRS, IRD, MNHN and the Conference of University Presidents, these meetings will enable experts to share their research, ideas and experiences, thus fostering a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to preventing health and environmental risks. These workshops will be designed to feed national and regional policies for the prevention of emergencies in a One Health approach, through the scientific evidence of the research results obtained by PEPR Prezode. A particular emphasis will be placed on involving regional and national One Health networks, international organizations (including the One Health Quadripartite), international programs and civil society organizations. These workshops will form part of the new “French Global Health Strategy” (2023-2027), which makes explicit reference to One Health and the Prezode initiative, to which all French research operators involved in One Health have actively contributed. These workshops will integrate field approaches and involve local/regional players (around 50 people in total).

5. FEF-R MAE “Training community volunteers to implement the One Health approach in the Mekong Basin”: 2024-2024

Co-PIs: Juliette Perrot (French Embassy in Thailand), Serge Morand

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

The signing institutions of the IRL HealthDEEP are CNRS and two thai universities: Mahidol University and Kasetsart University.

The IRL is currently directed by Dr Serge Morand (Director of Research at CNRS). It is one of the 75 IRL developed by the CNRS with strategic partners across the world and the second IRL in Thailand.

Below, some pictures from the signing ceremony of the IRL in the French Embassy in Bangkok, July 2023.