THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Los Baños has created a program that focuses on zoonotic diseases.

This will further improve the university’s efforts to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The UPLB said the new program aims to establish the National Zoonoses Center that will have its own laboratories and facilities dedicated to zoonoses studies.

It also envisions to serve as a diagnostic testing center that is capable of performing advanced techniques in the surveillance of infectious diseases.

“A team of interdisciplinary experts from across UPLB’s colleges have been identified to handle the program. Most of them are implementing and will continue to pursue their zoonoses-related researches,” the university said.

“They will also seek government funding for new project proposals on zoonoses prevention and control, epidemiology and data science, microbial research, pathology and diagnostics, food safety, animal research, and science communication,” it added.

Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Jezie Acorda will temporarily serve as the interim program director.

The proposal for a zoonoses studies unit was conceptualized during the term of former UPLB chancellor Dr. Fernando Sanchez, Jr. at the height of the first implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in 2020.