ERC Annual Conference: Frontier research for One Health

28 January 2026
8.30 - 18.00 CEST
Covent Garden, Place Rogier 16, Brussels (25th floor) and online
ERC
EN
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Human, animal, and environmental health are inseparably linked—making the One Health approach vital for today’s global challenges. From antimicrobial resistance and the COVID-19 pandemic to climate-driven disease shifts and environmental degradation, tackling these threats requires bold, interdisciplinary research that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence.

This conference will bring together leading scientists, policymakers and stakeholders to showcase how ERC-funded frontier research is tackling pressing global challenges through the lens of One Health. It will highlight how cutting-edge discoveries can drive real-world solutions, shape policy, and foster collaboration across disciplines—turning scientific breakthroughs into tangible impact for society and the environment.

Draft Programme

TimeSession
08:30Registration 
09:00

Welcome 

Maria Leptin, ERC President  

09:30Keynote Address and Q&A: Ilaria Capua, Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe, IT  – "Circular Health: advancing One Health and sustainability"
10:15Coffee break
10:30

Scientific panel 1: Outsmarting Outbreaks: Tackling zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance & future pandemics

  • Cassandra Koh, Institut Pasteur, FR – "I Contain Multitudes: Mosquito Viromes and their Impact on Arbovirus Disease Ecology"
  • Giulia Giordano, Universita Degli Studi Di Trento, IT – "From Dynamics to Decisions: Systems and Control Approaches Against Epidemics and Antimicrobial Resistance"
  • Lukas Engelmann, University of Edinburgh, UK – "Past, present, and future of modelling in One Health"
12:00Lunch break
13:00

Scientific Panel 2: The health of our planet; the health of us all

  • Jenni Lehtimäki, Finnish Environment Institute, FI – "Biodiversity loss and non-communicable diseases"
  • Ana Bastos, Leipzig University, DE – "Climate risks for the terrestrial biosphere"
  • Panagiota Kotsila, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, ES – "Drivers of vulnerability to climate-related health impacts for migrant communities in European cities: state or the art and steps towards justice-oriented adaptation."
14:30Coffee Break
14:45

Scientific Panel 3: Smart Science: How AI is Revolutionizing One Health

  • Nicola Segata, Universita Degli Studi Di Trento, IT – "Microbiome transmission from a one health perspective"
  • Eleonora Macchia, Abo Akademi University, FI – "AI-Powered Biosensors: Revolutionizing Preventive Medicine for a Healthier Planet"
  • John Palmer, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, ES
  • Veronika Eyring, Deutsche Zentrum Fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Centre), DE – "Understanding and Modelling the Earth System with Machine Learning"
16:15Coffee Break
16:30

Roundtable: From Discovery to Decision: Bridging Research and Policy for a thriving world

  • Sebastian Villasante, University of Santiago de Compostela (Lead Author IPBES Second Global Assessment)
  • Carlos Goncalo das Neves, Chief Scientist, European Food Safety Authority
  • Florika Fink Hooijer, Director General HERA - Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority
  • Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General CLIMA – Climate Action
  • Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General RTD – Research and Innovation

Moderator: Eleni Zika, Head of Sector for Scientific Impact and Feedback to Policy, ERC Executive Agency

18:00

Concluding Remarks 

Joanna DRAKE, Deputy Director General Research and Innovation

Laurence MOREAU, Director ERC Executive Agency

More information

Mapping frontier research
Opinion of the Scientific Advice Mechanism on “One Health”
DG Health and Food Safety: One Health