Cairo, Egypt | October 19, 2026
Badr University in Cairo (BUC) officially opened the 3rd International Scientific Conference 2026, themed “One World, One Health,” at the BUC Conference Center on October 19, 2026. The opening day marked an important milestone in strengthening global cross-sectoral collaboration to address interconnected challenges in human, animal, and environmental health. The conference also contributed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), by promoting integrated approaches to zoonotic disease prevention and global health.
The conference commenced with an opening session entitled “Vision to Action: Inaugurating the One Health Future,” led by Prof. Dr. Adel Abdelkhalek, Dean of Veterinary Medicine and Conference Chairman, followed by an introduction to the conference by Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed. The opening ceremony was attended by several distinguished figures, including Prof. Dr. Ashraf Elshihy, President of Badr University in Cairo; Dr. Hassan El-Kalla, Head of the Board of Trustees; Dr. Magdy Hassan from the Egyptian Veterinary Syndicate; Prof. Dr. Mohamed Saad from the General Organization for Veterinary Services; Dr. Heba Mahrous, representing the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO-EMRO); and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
As a demonstration of its commitment to strengthening international cooperation, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the opening ceremony also marked the formal establishment of international collaborations between BUC and representatives from four countries: Uganda, Somalia, Indonesia, and Romania. In this occasion there was also a handover of the One Health Collaboration MoU between the Faculty of Biology UGM and Badr University in Cairo represented by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M. Agr. Sc. This significant occasion was highlighted by the presentation of the International One Health Center Leadership Medals, the exchange of commemorative gifts, and a group photograph.
One of the highlights of the conference was the participation of Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, S.Si., M.Biotech., from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, as one of the featured speakers in the panel discussion entitled “Borders & Boundaries: Global One Health Paradigms.” He joined a distinguished group of multidisciplinary experts from various countries, including Dr. Ahmed Abdulkadir Hassan (Somalia), Dr. Fatima Aldariweesh (Kuwait), Prof. Dr. Uwe Truyen (Germany), Prof. Dr. Daliborca-Cristina Vlad (Romania), Dr. Heba Mahrous (WHO-EMRO), and Prof. Ioan Pet (Romania). The interactive discussion highlighted the importance of transcending geographical boundaries and strengthening international collaboration to address emerging global health threats through integrated One Health strategies.
During the afternoon session, the conference shifted its focus toward translating scientific research into practical solutions through a session entitled “Translating Science to Solutions.” Prof. Hyung Wook Kwon (South Korea) presented innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based mosquito trapping and screening technologies, while Prof. Qigai He (China) shared strategies for commercializing scientific discoveries into practical products. These efforts to translate research into real-world applications reflected the objectives of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by promoting technological advancement and innovation. The session was followed by an industrial innovation presentation by IFT Corporation, as well as poster exhibitions and sponsor showcases during the lunch break.
The subsequent session, “Synergies & Systems: Expanding the Global One Health Network,” featured presentations highlighting One Health initiatives and collaborative networks across different countries. These included a presentation by Prof. Dr. Tri Wibawa from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, entitled “One Health Initiatives in Indonesia,”, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Hamedy (Germany), who discussed food hygiene practices, and Prof. Yahya Dieye (Senegal), who presented disease prevention networks in Africa. Toward the conclusion of the academic sessions, “BUC Frontiers”showcased recent scientific breakthroughs and research achievements from Badr University in Cairo.
The first day of the conference officially concluded with the announcement of poster exhibition winners, the presentation of certificates to local participants, and a group photograph featuring all participating delegations. Through its diverse scientific sessions and international knowledge exchange, the conference not only strengthened academic understanding and research collaboration in support of SDG 4 (Quality Education) but also expanded international partnerships aimed at building resilient and sustainable global health systems.
