1. The definition of One Health
In recent years, a number of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases coexist alternately. According to statistics, 70% of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases were zoonotic. Outbreaks of infectious diseases in different species and regions not only pose a serious threat to human and animal survival and health, but also cause huge economic losses. In addition, the incidence of foodborne disease continues to increase and has become another public health crisis that cannot be ignored.

The traditional single health system has not been effective at addressing these challenges, and interdisciplinary cooperation is needed to jointly respond to and solve the problems. On April 14, 2007, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board took official action to establish a One Health Initiative by approving a recommendation to establish a One Health Initiative Task Force (OHITF). One Health, an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses animal, human, and environmental health, has been embraced as a way forward by many groups of professional experts. It is an interdisciplinary strategy for advancing health in humans, animals, and the environment through communication and collaboration with the realization all are connected. 

Soon after, sixteen countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Thailand, and Kazakhstan etc., began practicing the concept of One Health in various forms. In 2014, the first One Health Research Center of Excellence for Research and Training in China was established in School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University.

2.  Center Mission
The One Health Research Center of Excellence for Research and Training mission is to use the One Health concept to promote interdisciplinary research and training to advance health in humans, animals, and the environment. We hope that our center will become China's first One Health research and training specialized agency.

3. Research Interests
The main research interests of the One Health Research Center of Excellence for Research and Training include three aspects: One Health and Zoonosis, One Health and Food Safety, and One Health and Environmental Sciences.

4. International Exchange and Cooperation
(1) In 2014, China’s first International Symposium for One Health Research (ISOHR) was successfully held in Guangzhou.
(2) In November 2015, Professor Maxine Whittaker and Simon Reid from University of Queensland (Australia) will organize the first One Health Workshop in Sun Yat-sen University, China. 

5. Center Leadership
Director: Jiahai Lu, Ph.D. Professor (Sun Yat-sen University) 
Gregory C. Gray, MD, MPH, Professor (Duke University, USA)
Deputy Director: Guihong Zhang, Ph.D. Professor (South China Agricultural University)
Secretary: Qin Xiao, Ph.D. (Sun Yat-sen University)
For more information about the One Health in China, see website bellow: 
//www.healthonly.cn/index.asp