Vice President for Planning and Development
At the 3rd International Congress on Pathogens at the Human Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) 2015
On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
‘Sawadee-Krub’ from The Most Splendid City of Culture: Chiang Mai, Thailand
On behalf of the honorary Co-Chair of ICOPHAI 2015, I would like to offer my sincere
congratulations to all ICOPHAI members for continuing the successful collaboration
between Chiang Mai University Thailand, the Ohio State University USA, scientists and
policy-makers from global partners including Latin America, Africa and Europe. I’d like to
personally welcome all of you to Chiang Mai for the 3rd International Congress on
Pathogens at the Human-Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) 2015. The first two successful ICOPHAI
in 2011 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and 2013 (Porto de Garihas, Brazil) had highlighted good
opportunities to strengthen our capacity building in the ASEAN community, to be prepared
for the continual emergence of new diseases and pathogens at human-animalsenvironmental interface.
This congress is a prestigious gathering of organizations and universities to share and
strengthen interdisciplinary research using a One Health approach. Topics to be addressed
during this congress include a special session on Ebola, MERS and other emerging viral
diseases of zoonotic significance and how to operationalize a One Health approach by
working with physicians, veterinarians and ecologists to monitor and control public health
threats.
We are very thankful to the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Ohio State University for
their significant involvement, especially the great support from Prof. Dr. Wondwossen
Gebreyes, Director of Global Health Programs and chair of the ICOPHAI 2015. As the last
congress had over 760 registrants originating from more than 50 countries involving close to
200 research, academic, regulatory and intergovernmental institutes world-wide, this
upcoming congress will certainly be a meaningful experience for our scientific communities,
faculties and students and an eye-opener to all of us involved in educating, managing or
researching on infectious diseases at the interface of human, animal and ecosystem.
On behalf of Chiang Mai University, I strongly believe that the ICOPHAI 2015 will strengthen
the interdisciplinary research relationships between scientists, policy-makers and global
partners and the successful research cooperation between our universities. This would
strengthen the deep and sustainable relationships between Thailand and its development
partners.
I wish you all a productive conference and a most enjoyable stay in Chiang Mai.
Welcome to Chiang Mai.
Prof. Dr. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, MD.,Ph.D.
Honorary Co-Chair of ICOPHAI 2015
Vice President for Planning and Development
Chiang Mai University, Thailand