Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS): Inauguration Report

Abstract

This report outlines the ZELS (Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems) initiative as presented at its Inaugural Meeting, outlining its organizational framework and participants’ expectations, and introducing the individual research projects being funded. ZELS research scope will be multi-level, interconnected and will address the aim of reducing the impact of zoonosis on poor people and their livestock in developing countries.

The vision of ZELS is to make a step change in the research evidence available to decision makers, providing them with information on how to minimise the health risks associated with the rapidly changing nature of livestock systems in developing countries, focusing on those risks which impact on the livelihoods and health of poor people.

The key aims of ZELS are:

  • To reduce the impact of zoonoses on poor people and their livestock. The initiative recognises that priorities for endemic, new and/or (re-)emerging zoonotic diseases may vary from region to region. It will address the problem of zoonoses by generating high-quality research in technical and policy areas.
  • To forge mutually beneficial inter- and multi-disciplinary partnerships between researchers in the UK and developing countries that create trans-national added value through meaningful intellectual collaboration, and enhance the scientific capabilities of southern partners for the longer term.

Citation

Anon. Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS): Inauguration Report. BBSRC, Swindon, UK (2014) 28 pp.

Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS): Inauguration Report

Published 1 January 2014