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PRESS NOTE

The Two-Day Conference and Table-Top Simulation Exercise on One Health: Integrating Health Security and Biosecurity was conducted on 2^nd and 3^rd July 2026 at Hotel Pullman Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The event was organized by the Deccan Centre for International Relations (DCIR), Chennai, in collaboration with the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and LEAD at IFMR/ KREA University.

The conference provided a vital platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue among policymakers, scientists, public health experts, biosecurity specialists, veterinarians, and academics. It aimed to strengthen India’s National One Health Mission by promoting integrated approaches to zoonotic disease control, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environmental surveillance, and biosecurity as a non-traditional security threat. Discussions focused on translating global and national frameworks into actionable strategies for resilient health systems, cross-ministerial coordination, and enhanced pandemic preparedness.

In the inaugural Session, the participants were welcomed by Amb. T.S. Tirumurti, IFS (Retd.), Chair – Steering Committee, DCIR. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), delivered the inaugural address. The Chief Guest Address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Ms. Sharon Buteau, Executive Director, LEAD at IFMR/ KREA, offered concluding remarks.

The event featured four thematic sessions on Day 1:

1. Thematic Session – I: One Health: Biology, Technology & Future Innovations Moderated by Prof. R. Sowdhamini, Distinguished Professor, NCBS, Bengaluru. Speakers included Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Adviser, and Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, Bengaluru.
2. Thematic Session – II: Governance, Global Lessons and International Cooperation: Moderated by Dr. Sindura Ganapathi, Visiting PSA Fellow. Speakers included Dr. Sangeeta Agarwal, Scientist ‘F’, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, and Dr. Michael Friedman, Lead, Public Health Response, Asia Centre for Health Security, Singapore.
3. Thematic Session – III: One Health: Foundation of National Health and Biosecurity: Moderated by Mr. Balasubramanian C, Senior Adviser, DCIR. Speakers included Brig. M. M. Ramachandra (Retd.), Director, National Security Council Secretariat; Mr. Kashish Aneja, Advocate, Global Health Law; and Dr. Shambhavi Naik, India Lead at BiaSPARK.
4. Thematic Session – IV: Biosecurity, Dual-Use Research, and Laboratory Networks: Moderated by Dr. Mohan Kumar, Director of Health and Nutrition, MSSRF. Speakers included Dr. G.N. Krupa, Head of Division (Health and Social Welfare), Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, and Dr. Pavithra Venkatagopalan, Managing Director, Care Health, Chennai.

The Valedictory Address was delivered by Dr. Yvan J.-F. Hutin, World Health Organisation Representative to India.

Day 2 will feature a Table-Top Simulation Exercise (TTx) led by Dr. Mohan Kumar and Mr. Balasubramanian C, followed by focused discussions. Participants are expected to provide practical and focussed inputs into policy and decision-making. The findings of the Conference will be published by Deccan Centre.

The conference saw active participation from senior government officials, scientists, representatives from various ministries, security experts, academia, and civil society. Rich deliberations, panel discussions, and audience interactions highlighted the strategic importance of One Health in addressing zoonotic threats, AMR, climate-linked risks, and biosecurity challenges in the Indian and global context.

This event marks a significant step towards advancing India’s National One Health Mission and fostering whole-of-government and multi-sectoral collaboration for building resilient health and biosecurity systems.

02^nd July 2026
Chennai
EOM

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