One Health

What is One Health?

One Health is the concept that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It states human health is closely linked to the well-being of animals and the environment, and that solutions to health challenges must consider the interdependent relationships between them. 

Human health is closely linked to and dependent upon the health of animals and the environment, and solutions to health challenges must consider the interdependent relationships between them. This approach is particularly relevant to emerging infectious diseases that may have environmental or animal origins.

The health of the environment can impact the health of both humans and animals. The One Health approach seeks to promote a holistic understanding of health and to address challenges through a coordinated and integrated approach.

Why One Health Is the Future of Global Health?

The One Health initiative does not just consider the health of the human race but also works toward a cohesive, harmonious coexistence between animals and every level of the environment and its ecosystems. This approach addresses complex health challenges that affect the human race, but also creates solutions for animals and the environment for sustainable health through all three pillars of global health.

This comprehensive approach recognizes it’s not just about humans, which is what makes it an essential concept for the future of global health. 

Here is a breakdown of why the One Health concept will make a difference in the future of global health:

1. Emerging infectious diseases
   Many of the most significant public health threats in recent years, such as Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19, have emerged from animal populations. One Health recognizes that the health of animals is connected to human health and that it is essential to address the underlying environmental and ecological factors that contribute to such outbreaks.
   
   
2. Antibiotic resistance
   Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health threat caused in part by the overuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, as well as livestock farming. Cross-spectrum approaches driven by the One Health concept will be crucial to stemming these medical practices that drive the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria.
   
   
3. Environmental health
   Major economic challenges like climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction have significant impacts on the health of both humans and animals across the globe. One Health recognizes the importance of protecting and preserving the environment for the health and well-being of all living things.
   
   
4. Interdisciplinary collaboration 
   One Health emphasizes collaboration and cooperation across different sectors and disciplines, including public health, veterinary medicine, ecology, and environmental science. This approach recognizes that addressing complex health challenges requires the expertise and perspectives of a range of different fields, working in partnership to solve common goals.

How One Health Drives the Biomeme Mission

Biomeme’s purpose is to create decentralized testing solutions that offer rapid results so researchers and clinicians can take proactive measures to preventing and treating illnesses. We know that by maintaining better human, environmental, and animal health and creating elegant molecular (real-time PCR and isothermal) detection solutions to enable DNA/RNA analysis at a molecular level, people are empowered with a more comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases that plague all three levels of One Health: humans, animals, and the environment. By staying ahead of issues with our testing and technologies, we are able to prevent pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and vectors from developing resistance and/or spreading to other parts of an ecosystem, which would inevitably be detrimental on a global level.  

Over the past few years, the world has recognized the importance of pandemic preparedness and taken significant steps towards it. At Biomeme, we are committed to improving human, animal, and environmental health by deeply understanding the interconnectivity of these three pillars. As a result, we have developed state-of-the-art molecular testing solutions for emerging infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2, providing precise and dependable results. Our focus now is on advancing this technology further and exploring the potential of Host Response in diagnostics. Our initial goal is to assist healthcare professionals in distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and aiding in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Our Approach to One Health, in Action

At Biomeme, working to support One Health is more than just a mission—it’s our reality. Our current and in-development testing products enable fast, reliable detection of critical pathogens and illnesses conditions in humans, animals, and in the environment. 

Biomeme’s support of One Health is initially intended to address and benefit the health of humans, animals, and the environment in these two key ways:

1. Pandemic Preparedness
   At the outset of the pandemic, Biomeme developed an effective real-time PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that received emergency authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the exact origins of the virus’ outbreak are still disputed, it is clear that early detection of emerging infectious diseases (EID) in humans and animals will be key to preventing and limiting the impact of future pandemics. 
   
   
2. Antimicrobial Resistance
   Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of bacteria, viruses and fungi to resist the effects of drugs designed to control them and to mitigate the infections caused by these microorganisms. At Biomeme, we advocate strongly for the responsible, discerning use of antimicrobials and antibiotics as the first fundamental step that healthcare providers must take when prescribing solutions to patients. We specialize in creating accurate diagnostics that can support antibiotic stewardship initiatives and eliminate the over-prescription of antibiotics and other antimicrobials.

Global Health Organizations and Programs Committed to One Health

Biomeme works in conjunction with WHO, the CDC, the FDA, and other federal organizations to create a One Health framework now and in the future. Without these collaborations, a better global health would not be possible.

• CDC: The CDC’s goal regarding One Health is to mitigate infections before they even exist or impact populations. They do so by educating the public with state-of-the-art research in best practices to avoid spreading infectious diseases. 
  
  
• WHO: WHO implements innovative research and investments to combat infectious diseases. They create new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics to take proactive steps in combating illnesses from local to global economies, no matter their financial ability to afford healthcare.
  
  
• FDA: The FDA takes precautions with food and drugs to ensure human and animal populations are not negatively impacted by viruses and bacteria from food and water. This collaboration mitigates the spread of infectious diseases to and from animals, humans, and the environment. 

Our mission is to empower researchers and clinicians by providing molecular-level results to enhance human, environmental, and animal health. This approach allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases, covering humans, animals, and the environment. Our proactive testing and cutting-edge technologies are crucial in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses in ecosystems. However, we are also focused on advancing Host Response technology to help healthcare professionals differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and combating antibiotic resistance.