WOAH-CC joint training on translating epidemiological evidence for policy design

WOAH Collaborating Centres for Food Safety

WOAH encourages collaboration between the WOAH Collaborating Centres (CCs) with the same area of expertise and beyond to increase capacity to support the animal, human and environmental health.

In the veterinary epidemiology short training in Rakuno Gakuen University (RGU) for veterinarians in 2023 in Japan, participants expressed strong interest in future trainings on critically appraisal of peer reviewed epidemiological publications to support evidence-based policy design. This feedback highlighted the importance of critical reading and analysis of epidemiological papers in designing well-targeted and rational disease control and revealing a gap in the provision of such training opportunities.

This training was proposed by the School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University (RGU), which is the WOAH Collaborating Centre for Food Safety in collaboration with the National Center for Food Science, Singapore and the Research Center for Food Safety, University of Tokyo. It will be co-organised by Massey University’s EpiCentre and mEpiLab, which is the WOAH Collaborating Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, co-led by the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center.

This training offers an opportunity for policymakers to familiarize themselves with the process of translating critical epidemiological evidence into policy, aligning with the mandates of the Collaborating Centres and the needs of WOAH members. The speakers will guide participants to facilitate understanding of the critical insights that determine the efficacy of a disease control program.

The two-day training will cover two different topics each day. Day 1 (22 July) will cover animal health, and day 2 (23 July) will cover food safety.

Expected outcomes:

Participants understand the meaning of key results, methodological strengths and limitations of epidemiological paper in the context of disease transmission/incidence/disease control.
Participants are able to design a disease control program and make decisions based on peer-reviewed epidemiological evidence.

Target participants:

The anticipated participants include early career officers at both central and local government for animal health and/or public health authorities in the Asia and Pacific region who engage in disease prevention and control in animals and humans, students and other professionals, who are ready for active engagements in reading and discussions. Day 1 focuses on animal health, and Day2 food safety. Participants can choose the interested day(s). Participation for both dates also is an option.

Speakers (both in person and online):

Dr. Kohei Makita (RGU)

Dr. Shingo Asakura (RGU)

Dr. Naomi Cogger (EpiCentre)

Dr. Masako Wada (EpiCentre)

Details:

Date and time: 22-23 July 2026

Venue: Hybrid (Zoom and RGU, Japan)

Registration period and link: – 22 June, 2026 (LINK)

Programme: PDF