The UW-Madison Global Health Institute (GHI) and the Ella Foundation have signed a bilateral agreement to establish the first-ever “UW-Madison One Health Center” in Bangalore, India.
The center, expected to be operational by the end of 2023, will focus on advancing the development and production of new vaccines for India and provide Indian students and researchers access to UW expertise and training.
One of the key benefits of the One Health Center is that it will provide opportunities for UW students and researchers to work with emerging infectious diseases and see the impact of environment, politics, and social structures on health.
“Establishing the UW-Madison Global One Health Center holds great significance as it will advance global health through research, education, and community engagement by facilitating student, faculty exchanges, research and education,” said Dr. Krishna Ella, Director of the Ella Foundation.
UW-Madison GHI Director, Dr. Jorge Osorio, added, “The partnership between GHI and the Ella Foundation will open new opportunities for research, education, and provide actionable outcomes to benefit humans, animals, and ecosystems that advance equitable and sustainable health across India and the world.”
UW-Madison GHI One Health Center to advance vaccines, therapeutics, and global health education
The agreement will also expand interdisciplinary collaborations between UW-Madison Global Health Institute, Ella Foundation, and Bharat Biotech to address the complex determinants of health and disease and assess local needs and priorities that will drive research and intervention. Mrs. Suchitra Ella, Director of the Ella Foundation, stated, “This agreement holds great value.”
Erik Iverson, CEO of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), who was also in attendance, shared real stories of how their mission works to support scientific research within the UW-Madison community by providing financial support, actively managing assets, and moving innovations to the marketplace for a financial return and global impact. “I am delighted to participate in the Badger Utsav to share stories of the work WARF is involved in with international partners,” said Iverson.
The UW-Madison delegation attended the Badger Utsav event in New Delhi, where they held meetings with the private sector and government of India. The delegation will travel to Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore to develop more relationships to enhance global health innovation.
This partnership is a step towards promoting a healthy India and a healthy planet. The UW-Madison One Health Center joins a global network that includes Africa and Latin America and will provide a platform for addressing global health for a healthy India and healthy world.
A policymaker panel discussion was also held with panelists Dr. S. Chandrasekher, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE), Director General (ICAR), and Dr. Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Krishna Ella and Dr. Jorge Osorio, highlighting the development of the India One Health Center and the importance of addressing global health for a healthy India and healthy world.
More than a dozen high-ranking officials from UW-Madison in the United States attended the Utsav event and held meetings with the private sector and Government of India. The UW-Madison delegation will travel to Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore to develop more relationships to enhance global health innovation.
