From Insight to Action:

One Health Strategies for Pandemic Readiness

Concluding symposium of the NCOH Pandemic Preparedness Kickstarter project

Thursday 9 April 2026

from 9.30 hrs - 18.00 hrs (with registration open from 9.00 hrs)

at the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht

About the event

We look back a successful symposium of the Netherlands Center for One Health (NCOH) Kickstarter project. Leading One Health experts and policymakers gathered to discuss critical topics under the theme From Insight to Action: One Health Strategies for Pandemic Readiness.

This onsite-only event was a hub of innovation and collaboration, it featured keynote speeches from renowned scientists and policymakers and dynamic presentations from emerging researchers. During this day the latest findings and insights from the NCOH Pandemic Preparedness Kickstarter-project were shared. In addition to the keynotes, the meeting in the breakout sessions deeper topic-specific discussions with researchers and policymakers showcased their innovative research/work and fresh perspectives on pandemic preparedness.

Researchers, policymakers and industry working interested in pandemic preparedness in the Netherlands took part to shape the conversation the future of global One Health against pandemics.

Check out our programme

Keynote speakers

Meghan Davis

In her keynote speech Dr. Meghan Davis, focused on the rapid evolution of research needs during spillover events, which often occurs in a context of policy change and governmental decision-making. This talk used the case of H5 avian influenza—in particular the spillover into dairy cows in the United States—as a lens to highlight the interplay between rapid response, research activities, and decision-making in a policy context.

Meghan Davis is an Associate Professor in Environmental Health & Engineering, and she directs the Johns Hopkins P.O.E. Total Worker Health® Center in Mental Health.

Lidwien Smit

In the opening address Prof. Lidwien Smit linked the One Health approach to the complex societal challenges faced in an increasingly interconnected world. Drawing on insights from SARS-CoV-2 research in mink populations in the Netherlands, she highlighted the necessity of integrated human, animal and environmental surveillance.

She also outlined the objectives and societal relevance of the NCOH Kickstarter project, as well as its structure and collaboration across its work packages.

Lidwien Smit is Professor of One Health and Environmental Epidemiology at Utrecht University.

Marion Koopmans

Closing remarks came from Prof. Marion Koopmans as she took us beyond the NCOH Kickstarter project.

Marion Koopmans is Professor of Public Health Virology

Speakers

Speaker

Location

Spoorwegmuseum

Maliebaanstation 16

3581 XW Utrecht

Information

Organisers

This symposium is organised by:

Prof. Lidwien Smit, Utrecht University

Prof. Patricia Bruijning-Verhagen, UMC Utrecht

Dr. Corine Geurts van Kessel, Erasmus MC

Prof. Marion Koopmans, Erasmus Medical Center

Prof. Annemarie Rebel, Wageningen University & Research

and supported by the organising committee

Kimberly Linde, Utrecht University

Arija Jansen, Utrecht University

Erika van Gennip, NCOH

The Pandemic Preparedness project funding is provided to the NCOH by ZonMw.