DCIR Convenes One Health Conference to Strengthen Biosecurity

The Deccan Centre for International Relations (DCIR), in collaboration with the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and LEAD at IFMR/KREA University, organized a two-day conference and tabletop simulation exercise titled “One Health: Integrating Health Security and Biosecurity” on July 2-3, 2026, at Hotel Pullman Anna Salai in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The conference brought together policymakers, scientists, public health experts, biosecurity specialists, veterinarians, and academics to discuss key issues at the intersection of health security and biosecurity.

According to a DCIR statement, the event 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 centered on translating national and global frameworks into practical strategies for “resilient health systems, cross-ministerial coordination, and enhanced pandemic preparedness.”

The inaugural session began with welcome remarks by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, IFS (Retd.), Chair of the DCIR Steering Committee. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, delivered the inaugural address, while Prof. Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, was the chief guest. Ms. Sharon Buteau, Executive Director of LEAD at IFMR/KREA, delivered the concluding remarks.

The first day featured four thematic sessions:

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

The valedictory address was delivered by Dr. Yvan J.-F. Hutin, World Health Organization Representative to India.

The second day featured a tabletop simulation exercise led by Dr. Mohan Kumar and Balasubramanian C., followed by focused discussions. Participants were expected to provide practical and focused recommendations to support policy and decision-making. According to the organizers, the conference findings will be published by the Deccan Centre for International Relations.

The conference drew participation from senior government officials, scientists, representatives from various ministries, security experts, academics, and members of civil society.

According to the statement, panel discussions, deliberations, and audience interactions underscored the strategic importance of the One Health approach in addressing zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate-related risks, and biosecurity challenges in both the Indian and global contexts.

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