Held alongside the Johns Hopkins University Science Diplomacy Summit, the mission sought to raise PREZODE’s international profile, forge strategic partnerships, and advance One Health approaches to zoonotic disease prevention.
From 12 to 16 April 2026, Dr. Elsa Léger, Chief Science Officer of the PREZODE initiative and researcher at INRAE, travelled to Washington DC at the invitation of the French Embassy in the United States.
A major highlight of the mission was PREZODE’s participation in a high-level panel during the JHU Science Diplomacy Summit 2026, organized as part of the One Health Festival (affiliated to the One Health Summit). Moderated by Audrey Thévenon, the event brought together Elsa Léger (PREZODE/INRAE), Guillaume Lhermie (University of Calgary), Josh Glasser (Silver Lining), and Erin Sorrell (Johns Hopkins University). Discussions focused on how to translate One Health from concept into practice through science diplomacy, inclusive governance, and cross-sector collaboration. Panelists highlighted persistent challenges such as fragmented governance, insufficient financing mechanisms, and the gap between global strategies and local realities. The exchanges also explored solutions, such as integrating local and Indigenous knowledge, strengthening trust with communities, social sciences, and diplomacy for more effective and equitable One Health implementation
Engaging with strategic actors
The mission also enabled PREZODE to engage with a wide range of strategic actors, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the One Health Commission, Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania-College of Veterinary Medicine, The Pandemic Fund, The NIAID-NIH, the Global Council for Science and Environment (GCSE) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). These opened opportunities for future collaborations around capacity building, joint webinars and projects, and international events.
A particularly insightful exchange took place with Dr Heather Dearie and Steve Connelly from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, who presented their state-level strategy for zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention. Faced with challenges such as avian influenza and shortages of rural veterinarians, Maryland has developed an integrated approach combining animal surveillance, vaccination strategies, cross-sector coordination, and direct outreach to farming communities – a relevant case study showcasing how locally adapted coordination between animal, environmental, and public health actors can strengthen preparedness and prevention at territorial levels.
Bridging the Science-Policy Gap at the Climate–Health Nexus
The mission also included participation in a closed roundtable at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House entitled “Bridging the Science-Policy Gap at the Climate–Health Nexus.” Discussions highlighted the growing interconnections between climate change, global health and One Health implementation, emphasizing the need for more integrated, and prevention-oriented policies. Speakers also stressed the importance of stronger coordination mechanisms, actionable indicators to guide decision-making, and constructive science-based narratives capable of fostering public engagement and supporting collective action.
Overall, the mission confirmed PREZODE’s growing recognition as an international platform connecting science, governance, and local action to strengthen zoonotic disease prevention worldwide. Meetings’ outcomes demonstrated the increasing international demand for collaborative, inclusive and prevention-oriented One Health approaches, placing local realities and interdisciplinary cooperation at the center of global health.