Launch of the One Health MicrobiomePartnerships Working Group
On 26th of February the WMP officially launched its Working Group G on One Health Microbiome Partnerships, marking an important step toward strengthening the integration of microbiome science within the global One Health agenda.
The Working Group is led by Acting Executive Committee members Emmanuelle Maguin and Lita Proctor, with a dedicated Communications stream coordinated by Sari Tanikawa, and will benefit from the guidance of two distinguished advisors, Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello of Rutgers University, USA and Irma Janeth Sanabria-Gomez of Murdoch University Australia and Universidad del Valle, Colombia and is supported by transversal coordinators Indre Karciauskaite and Emma Bryckaert.
At its initial stage, the Working Group is structured around three core orientations:
- Outreach and Partnerships
The group aims to position WMP as a relevant actor in the international One Health landscape by responding to policy calls and requests for consultations, engaging policymakers and other stakeholders, and clearly articulating why microbiomes are critical to One Health. Efforts will include participation in events, publications, bilateral meetings, and the establishment of formal partnerships with other international One Health and microbiome networks, research institutes, and the private sector. - Communication and Outreach
This stream will develop strategic communication materials to strengthen WMP’s international positioning and raise awareness of the importance of microbiomes for One Health among broader audiences. Producing accessible content for the general public as well as developing shared messages and communication tools that support and amplify the work of all WMP Working Groups. The group will also identify key events for WMP participation and contribute to building a coherent internal and external communication strategy. - Geographical Representation
Recognizing the importance of global inclusivity, the Working Group will design an action plan to reach underrepresented regions and foster partnerships with local microbiome initiatives.
The inaugural discussion brought together 34 engaged professionals, who shared ideas on future goals and deliverables. Key themes emerging from the discussion included the need to move beyond a human-centric approach, ensure inclusion of all One Health domains, create audience-specific content, provide spaces for sharing funding opportunities and joint applications, and explore pilot models to clarify data needs for different purposes.
Next steps include bi-monthly calls starting in April, identification of activity leads and contributors, refinement of the communication strategy, and coordinated follow-up of international events relevant to microbiome science and One Health.
The Working Group remains open to new contributors. Interested individuals are welcome to join at any time and help shape this collaborative effort to advance microbiome-informed One Health solutions worldwide here: https://forms.fillout.com/t/j6minGYDNUus
