Thierry Lefrançois of CIRAD, the first veterinarian appointed to the French COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board
Thierry Lefrançois, a veterinarian and specialist in health networks and integrated approaches at CIRAD, has just been appointed to the French Scientific Advisory Board on COVID-19. This marks the first time a veterinarian has joined the board’s panel of experts, which was established last March to provide guidance on public policy decisions regarding the management of the health crisis, under the Ministry of Solidarity and Health.
“Our public policies must be fully and concretely aligned with the One Health approach.” “Effectively combating the emergence or spread of certain diseases requires a better understanding of the interactions between humans, animals, and their environment,” said Julien Denormandie, Minister of Agriculture and Food, upon the announcement of the appointment of Thierry Lefrançois of CIRAD, the first veterinarian to join the COVID-19 Scientific Council. The appointment decree was published on February 17 in the Official Journal.
The past few decades have been marked by health crises that have often highlighted the interdependence between animals, humans, and ecosystems. Several zoonotic diseases illustrate this, such as rabies, avian and swine influenza, salmonellosis… and, of course, COVID-19. Preserving biodiversity and ensuring the biosecurity of animal production systems through a comprehensive health approach can help prevent the emergence and spread of these diseases.
This appointment symbolizes a commitment to breaking down the barriers between the three domains of animal, human, and environmental health. “We have been implementing the One Health concept for over 10 years at CIRAD through a multisectoral, multidisciplinary, and multi-stakeholder approach that integrates all aspects of health,” emphasizes Thierry Lefrançois, director of CIRAD’s Biological Systems Department, whose work focuses on living organisms and their diversity, from the genome to the socio-ecosystem.
This appointment represents not just the selection of a single scientific figure, but the recognition of an entire profession, a body of expertise, and the ability to coordinate international networks. “Veterinarians have in-depth knowledge and practical experience with coronaviruses, epizootics, cross-species transmission, predictive epidemiology, and multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder approaches that enable us to anticipate crises,” explains Thierry Lefrançois. This expertise is applied to numerous diseases and in many CIRAD projects.
Brief Biography of Thierry Lefrançois
In his new role, Thierry Lefrançois plans to draw on a vast network of peers in France and abroad.
Thierry Lefrançois, Chief Inspector of Veterinary Public Health, has worked at CIRAD for over twenty years on the diagnosis, epidemiology, and control of tropical animal diseases. He has served in Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Guadeloupe, among other places. His research has focused on the emergence of diseases and the development of interactions between research and surveillance within regional health networks in the Global South.
He currently heads CIRAD's Biological Systems Department, which brings together research units working in the fields of animal health, plant health, plant adaptations, and biodiversity.
He is currently a member of the INRAE Scientific Council and has also served as chair of the Scientific Council of the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, a member of the National Committee for Animal Health Epidemiological Surveillance (CNESA), and an expert for the French AVIESAN alliance, the National Research Agency (ANR), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).