24 Jun 2020
Dr Juan Pablo Villanueva-Cabezas wins Soulsby Fellowship
Dr Juan Pablo Villanueva-Cabezas, an epidemiologist at the Doherty Institute, has won a Soulsby Fellowship for his research studying milk production systems in Bhutan to improve cattle and human health.
He is one of five researchers awarded fellowship funds from the Soulsby Foundation – a charity that supports researchers, particularly those early in their career, working on One Health projects.
The fellowships - worth a total of £50,000 (AUD$90,000) - will support research across zoonotic diseases, maternal disease, sustainable food production and food poverty.
Instead of focusing on disease pathogens, Dr Villanueva-Cabezas will be investigating animal husbandry and food safety practices in Bhutan, as well as promoting general awareness of zoonotic diseases.
“Milk producers in the region have had some success in establishing milk cooperatives, but limited access to animal feed and various health issues including zoonotic diseases have undermined their success,” Dr Villanueva-Cabezas said.
Rather than focusing of disease pathogens, Dr Villanueva-Cabezas will be considering animal husbandry and food safety practices, as well as promoting general awareness of zoonotic diseases.
This contributes to the emerging One Health focus of the Institute by engaging in collaborative research projects focused on One Health issues of low-and middle-income countries.
Chair of the Soulsby Foundation trustees, Judy MacArthur Clark, said: “These 2020 Soulsby Fellows are remarkable examples of how a One Health approach benefits humans, animals and the communities in which they live.”
“They are potential future leaders who will enable us to better respond to future pandemics.”