Reservoirs and transmission pathways of zoonotic and environmental pathogens. Six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals. We study characteristics and zoonotic links of bacterial pathogens found in livestock, fish, insects, foods, the environment and people.​ ​We investigate the ecology, reservoirs and transmission of bacterial pathogens across livestock, aquatic animals, food, humans and the environment. A particular focus is how climate and environmental change reshape pathogen ecology, persistence, geographic distribution and transmission, including climate-sensitive waterborne pathogens such as ​​Vibrio​​ spp. We combine field epidemiology, environmental and microbiome surveillance, whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics and phylogenetics to identify transmission pathways and understand how environmental change translates into human and animal health risks​​. We apply whole genome sequencing and phyloge​nomic​​​ studies to establish epidemiological relationships. 
  
Antimicrobial resistance is a silent epidemic globally. We explore mechanisms and transmission of resistance, including to biocides, in a One Health context as well as the history of antimicrobial developments. We use traditional and advanced omics tools to test and measure the impact of context-based interventions for the reduction of antimicrobial use and resistance in veterinary, human and environmental sectors mainly in low and middle-income countries. 
  
Food quality and safety. We explore the efficacy of food control to protect public health. We also study functional properties of lactic acid bacteria, including their antagonistic properties, their distribution in the environment and application in food products.  
  
Evolution, identification and typing of veterinary important bacteria supports improved diagnostics and control of animal pathogens through genome-based serotype prediction (e.g., P. multocida, M. haemolytica) and taxonomic clarification of Pasteurellaceae. We study the microevolution of pathogenic E. coli under field pressures like antimicrobials and disinfectants. Metagenomics and Nanopore sequencing are used for capacity building and surveillance of poultry pathogens. Our work bridges bacterial systematics with practical diagnostics and informs vaccine development.

Ongoing

Risk assessment of imported biomass to Danish biogas plants with regards to introduction of animal pathogens. 
Project period: 2025 - 2028  
Funding: Danish Veterinary and Food Administration  
PI: Anders Dalsgaard  

Developing an early warning and response system for climate-sensitive waterborne disease outbreaks in Benin.  
Project period: 2023-2027 
Funding: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.  
PI: Anders Dalgaard 
Coordinator: Gildas Hounmanou 
https://idrc-crdi.ca/en/what-we-do/projects-we-support/project/developing-early-warning-and-response-system-climate 

Improving milk and chicken meat quality in the Kenyan food sector (QUALIFOOD) 
Funding: DANIDA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark 
https://drp.dfcentre.com/project/improving-milk-and-chicken-meat-quality-and-safety-in-the-kenyan-food-sector-qualifood/  
Co-PI: Jørgen Leisner 

Shifting Landscapes and Evolving Pathogens: Understanding population vulnerabilities and enhancing health system resilience  
Project period: 2026-2031 
Funding: DANIDA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark 
https://drp.dfcentre.com/project/shifting-landscapes-and-evolving-pathogens-understanding-population-vulnerabilities-and-enhancing-health-system-resilience-shape/ 
Co-PI: Arshnee Moodley 

Climate influence on zoonoses at human-livestock-wildlife Kenya Tanzania (ENHANCE) 
Project period: 2023-2028 
Funding: DANIDA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark 
https://drp.dfcentre.com/project/climate-influence-on-zoonoses-at-human-livestock-wildlife-interfaces-in-the-transboundary-region-between-kenya-and-tanzania-enhance/ 
PI: Arshnee Moodley 

Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods CGIAR Science Programme 
Project period: 2025-2030 
Funding: CGIAR Trust 
https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-animal-and-aquatic-foods/ 
PI: Arshnee Moodley

Completed projects (since 2020) 

DRYAP: How the antibiotic drug pipeline ran dry 
​​Project period: 
Funding: The Norwegian Research Council 
https://www.emptypipeline.org/  
PI: Jørgen Leisner 

FOODINDEX: Amines as objective index for safety and quality of Chinese and Danish food products 
Project period: 
Funding: SDC - The University Partnership Denmark-China 
​​PI: Jørgen Leisner​​​ 

​​​​​ ​​​​I-CRECT​​. Interventions to decrease carbapenem resistance Enterobacteriaceae colonization and transmission between hospitals, households, communities, and domesticated animals in Vietnam. 2022-2026. 
Funding: JPIAMR-ACTION Joint Transnational call with funding from Innovationsfonden Danmark.​ https://www.jpiamr.eu/projects/i-crect/​​​​ 
​​​PI: Gildas Hounmanou​​

Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health, including Animal Health, the Environment and Practitioner Engagement (AMROH) East and Southern African 
Project period: 2024-2025 
Funding: Department of Health and Social Care, UK AID 
https://www.flemingfund.org/grants/amroh-esa-phase-2/  
PI: Arshnee Moodley 

​​Climate-related implications of the Baltic Sea on the increasing incidence of Vibriosis in Denmark during summers 
Project period: 2022-2023. 
Funding: European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).​​​ 
​​PI: Gildas Hounmanou​

One Health Centre in Africa 
Project period: 2020-2025 
Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 
https://www.ilri.org/research/facilities/one-health-centre-africa   
PI: Arshnee Moodley