OMU News
Dec 17, 2025
- Veterinary Science
OMU hosts University of Adelaide researchers for One Health collaboration
Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) welcomed a team of researchers in animal and veterinary science from the University of Adelaide* on December 9, 2025, for an international exchange focused on the global One Health initiative and community engagement in conservation.
The visiting team included Dr. Wayne Boardman, Associate Professor at the School of Animal and Veterinary Science; Dr. Kandarp Patel, Lecturer in Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology; and Dr. Elisabeth-Lidwien Verdegaal, Senior Lecturer in Equine Medicine.
The visit was organized as part of J-PEAK’s MulCo Project, an international co-creation initiative between OMU, the University of Adelaide, and Tennoji Zoo, with OMU’s Professors Norio Yamagishi and Masami Miyake from the Graduate School of Veterinary Science serving as OMU’s representative and helping coordinate the visit.
As part of this collaboration, the guests visited Tennoji Zoo, where Dr. Boardman delivered a keynote lecture to zoo staff on the interconnectedness of wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. He explained that the conservation of wildlife is an important issue for global health, emphasizing that environmental changes could accelerate disease transmission between animals and humans. Finally, Boardman advocated for zoos as important partners in conservation and public education. Following the keynote lecture, the group toured the zoo under the guidance of the director to see how the zoo cares for its indigenous and exotic animals.
On the following day, December 10, the team paid a courtesy visit to OMU President Hiroyuki Sakuragi. The participants exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including issues related to human coexistence with wildlife in both Australia and Japan, as well as university governance in light of the University of Adelaide’s upcoming merger next month and OMU’s recent one.
This exchange is expected to pave the way for even closer collaboration between OMU and the University of Adelaide in the future.
*The University of Adelaide will become Adelaide University in January 2026 following its merger with the University of South Australia.
Q&A session during the keynote lecture
At the entrance of Tennoji Zoo
Director Takeshi Mukai is introducing the lion exhibit to Associate Professor Boardman.
From left: Lecturer Patel, Senior Lecturer Verdegaal, Associate Professor Boardman, President Sakuragi, and Professor Miyake
Contact
Global Strategy Division
Email：gr-glo-strategy[at]omu.ac.jp
*Please change [at] to @.
SDGs
