What's Happening?
The Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) launched the Asia Pacific One Health Initiative (APOHI) on November 3, 2026, coinciding with World One Health Day. The initiative aims to integrate scientific expertise and surveillance data across human, animal,
and environmental health sectors to improve predictive intelligence and facilitate earlier detection and response to emerging disease threats. The launch event, held at Temasek Shophouse, convened approximately 100 delegates from 12 Asia-Pacific countries, alongside representatives from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). APOHI is co-led by Professor Leo Yee Sin and Dr. Ian Cheong of TLL, and Dr. Lee Fook Kay of Temasek Trust, with support from Temasek Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and the Health for Human Potential Community by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA). The initiative's first regional program focuses on zoonotic malaria in Borneo, investigating how environmental changes influence transmission risks.
Why It's Important?
The establishment of APOHI is crucial for strengthening pandemic preparedness in the Asia-Pacific region, an area highly susceptible to emerging infectious diseases due to increasing human-wildlife interaction and environmental changes. By bridging the current gaps between human, animal, and environmental health surveillance systems, APOHI seeks to create a more unified and effective early warning system. This integrated approach is vital for the U.S. and global health security, as infectious diseases can rapidly cross borders, as demonstrated by past pandemics. Investing in regional preparedness helps to contain outbreaks at their source, reducing the likelihood of international spread and mitigating potential economic and social disruptions worldwide. The focus on country ownership and co-creation ensures that programs are tailored to national priorities, fostering sustainable support and integration into existing public health systems, which is essential for long-term effectiveness.
What's Next?
APOHI will proceed with its initial regional program focusing on zoonotic malaria in Borneo. This project, named RIMBA, will involve partners from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore, utilizing AI, satellite data, and field and clinical surveillance to understand disease transmission. The insights gained from Project RIMBA are expected to inform more targeted surveillance approaches and decision-support tools for preventive measures, with the potential to be applied to other emerging disease threats. Future steps will also involve addressing challenges in trusted data sharing across borders and institutions, requiring clear safeguards for data access, validation, and usage. The initiative will continue to build on existing surveillance networks and foster closer links between researchers and public health authorities to translate scientific findings into actionable public health decisions.
Beyond the Headlines
The launch of APOHI signifies a broader shift towards a 'One Health' approach in global health security, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This initiative highlights the ethical imperative of proactive disease prevention rather than reactive crisis management, especially in regions with high biodiversity and rapid environmental changes. The emphasis on local context and evidence-based predictive models underscores the need for culturally and ecologically sensitive interventions. Furthermore, the collaborative funding model involving philanthropic organizations and foundations alongside governmental bodies reflects a growing understanding that pandemic preparedness requires diverse stakeholder engagement and sustained investment beyond traditional public health funding. This integrated strategy could serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges, promoting a more resilient global health architecture.
