AVC faculty member appointed to international scientific experts panel
Dr. Javier Sanchez, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, has been selected to be part of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment Roster of Experts (JEMRA) for a five-year term.
JEMRA is an international scientific expert panel that is administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide scientific advice on microbiological hazards, including expert advice on risk management options aimed at improving food safety.
Dr. Sanchez’s appointment makes AVC the only Canadian veterinary college to be represented on the panel.
Food-borne pathogens are an increasing challenge to those working in food safety, says Dr. Sanchez. JEMRA is tasked with identifying risks to consumers from food products contaminated with bacteria such as E coli, salmonella, or listeria.
The experts on the panel assess the probability of people being exposed to food products contaminated by bacteria and the likelihood that they will be harmed. They then use that data to help decision-makers develop policies to best protect consumers.
The JEMRA panel is also dealing with antimicrobial resistance—the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics—a major topic of concern in both veterinary and human medicine.
“Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to public health across the globe,” says Sanchez. “Using new molecular technology, we are working to identify the transmission pathways to quantify how antimicrobial resistance genes are being transferred by the consumption of food products. Being part of this panel will help in identifying the correct analytical approaches to estimate the risks to people.”
Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, congratulated Dr. Sanchez on his appointment.
“To address concerns regarding resistance development, the stewardship of antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine is one of the top priorities of the profession,” said Dr. Keefe. “We are pleased that Dr. Sanchez has been recognized as an international leader in this field.”
