LAHORE:The University of Education (UE), Lahore, successfully concluded the 2nd Interdisciplinary Research Conference on One Health (IRCOH 2026) which brought together leading academics, researchers and experts from Pakistan and abroad to explore integrated solutions for human, animal, plant and environmental health.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Vice Chancellor of University of Education Lahore Prof Dr Aqif Anwar Chaudhry, while Prof Dr Ihtisham ur Rehman from the University of Lancashire, UK, was the chief guest. Prof Dr Shagufta Andleeb, Director, Division of Science and Technology, UE, served as Conference Chair.
The conference was organised with the collaboration and support of prominent academic, research and scientific institutions, including the University of Sargodha, University of the Punjab, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Animal Health Diagnostic Authority (PAFDA), COMSTECH and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), reflecting a growing national commitment to collaborative and interdisciplinary research. Addressing the closing ceremony, Prof Dr Aqif Anwar Chaudhry said that UE had transformed into a major institution for interdisciplinary research, emphasising that the university was becoming increasingly ‘open, connected and breaking conventional boundaries’ in pursuit of knowledge and innovation. He said UE’s historical roots connect it with the ancient Indus Civilisation, a legacy that reflects the region’s long tradition of knowledge, learning and civilisation.
The VC said UE was proud to host the second edition of IRCOH, which provided a platform for researchers from diverse disciplines to come together and address complex contemporary challenges. He emphasised that meaningful research required openness, connectivity and collaboration beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Prof Dr Ihtisham ur Rehman observed that One Health is a highly demanding and rapidly evolving research domain that requires continuous innovation. He stressed the need for researchers and institutions to develop innovative solutions through collaboration across disciplines, particularly as challenges affecting human, animal and environmental health are increasingly interconnected.
IRCOH 2026 featured 42 research papers, with participation of around 200–250 researchers, academics and delegates. The moot featured three foreign presenters and three international keynote speakers, with international participation and scholarly contributions from France, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and China, alongside researchers from leading Pakistani institutions. The moot provided a multidisciplinary platform for discussions covering human health, animal health, environmental health, biosecurity and climate resilience, highlighting the core One Health principle that the health of humans, animals, plants and ecosystems is deeply interconnected.
