Developing International partnerships to combat vector-borne disease

VBS Associate Professor Peter Larsen along with VBS Adjunct Professor, Jon Oliver (Associate Professor,  School of Public Health, Lexi Frank (CMB Graduate student), and Jake Cassens (Oliver Lab PhD Candidate), recently traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan to strengthen ongoing research collaborations focused on vector-borne disease with faculty at Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) University. 

The trip was funded by a grant from the University of Minnesota Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility. Lexi Frank led a molecular training workshop, with support from Jake Cassens, for COMSATS students with over 40 attendees. COMSATS University hosted an international symposium on One Health with over 250 attendees during their visit. Dr. Larsen provided the keynote presentation for the event and Oliver, Larsen, Frank, and Cassens each provided research presentations. Feedback between the two groups has been positive and the collaboration was a huge success. The team looks forward to expanding research collaborations throughout the region.