Session Chair

Antimicrobial Resistance in Himalayan Region.

Dr. Ramendra Pati Pandey is a distinguished scientist known for his groundbreaking research in immunology and infectious diseases. He received the prestigious FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship to investigate the effects of nanoparticle-based drug combinations on T. cruzi infection at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. Dr. Pandey has held various leadership roles, including serving on the executive council of the Indian Immunology Society and as Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Hospital Infection. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to science, including the Department of Science and Technology Young Scientist Award and multiple travel awards from international immunological societies. Dr. Pandey has authored over 20 research articles and reviews and is a member of several national and international scientific societies. His outstanding achievements have been recognized with honors such as the Early Career Scientist Award and membership in prestigious academies including the National Academy of Sciences, India, and the Royal Society of Biology.

The "One Health" initiative is a critical strategy that recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health in the spread and containment of infectious pathogens. With the ease of global transportation, transboundary disease outbreaks pose a significant threat to food safety and security, endangering public health and having a negative economic impact. Traditional diagnostic techniques based on genotypic and phenotypic analyses are expensive, time-consuming, and cannot be translated into point-of-care tools, hindering effective disease management and control. However, with advancements in molecular methods, biosensors, and new-generation sequencing, rapid and reliable diagnostics are now available. By emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between human and animal health, this paper underscores the critical role of "One Health" initiatives in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.