Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands – Environmental Research Institute (ERI) recently attended the UK Mission to the EU’s One Health Fair in Brussels to showcase the innovative work of the One Health Breakthrough Partnership. The exhibition enabled representatives from diverse research, governmental, non-governmental, and industry organisations and partnerships to engage and network across cross-cutting national and international fields in One Health, including climate change, environmental pollution, and infectious disease. Along with 43 exhibitors from across the UK, Prof Stuart Gibb and Dr Lydia Niemi presented internationally recognised research and partnership outputs including novel work to understand pharmaceutical pollution in relationship to prescribing practices in Scotland (see Pharmaceuticals in the Environment data visualisation tool), and developing environmentally informed healthcare practices nationally (see Towards eco-directed prescribing project).
The event was attended by health attaches, healthcare preparedness teams, NGO and government representatives, MEPs and EU Commission staff, with keynote by UK Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Thomas Waite.
Professor Stuart Gibb said: ‘The work of OHBP has received widespread national recognition and we are grateful to both the Scottish and UK Governments for providing a platform to it with European parliamentarians, policy makers and agency representatives. We were astounded and delighted by the level of interest we received and aim to capitalise on that as we develop the work of OHBP and its work with international collaborators.’
Professor Stuart Gibb and Dr Lydia Niemi collaborate with OHBP steering group partners from NHS Highland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Water, and the Centre of Expertise for Waters as part of the OHBP. The OHBP has a key focus on promoting sustainable healthcare practices and addressing pharmaceuticals in the environment – an internationally recognised public health and environmental issue.
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