The gap between laboratory research and real-world application is a common concern among researchers and the communities they aim to serve. While scientific breakthroughs often start in carefully controlled laboratory settings, the real challenge is whether they can withstand the unpredictability of the real world. For intestinal infections, the gap between the lab and everyday reality can mean the difference between early treatment and ongoing outbreaks. Dr. Castellanos is working to close this divide by working backwards, beginning with an assessment of the resources accessible to the community and then tailoring his resource strategy to meet the community's needs where they are.

“If you look at the healthcare system, everything starts with one diagnostic…”. This is the mantra Assistant Professor Hui Chen, of the Department of Chemistry at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX uses to explain the importance of his research efforts. I recently interviewed UTMB One Health collaborator, Dr. Chen and his laboratory team members and was impressed with the breadth and diversity of their innovative diagnostic inventions.

A new One Health study from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) showed that small numbers of both U.S. cattle and cattle workers’ sera had evidence of previous infection with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza and influenza D virus. With the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now acknowledging that subclinical infections of animal influenza viruses are occurring these data are important.