APCOVE Newsletter
March, 2026
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 | Intermediate Field Epidemiology Trainees, Study Design Workshop - Vietnam, December 2025
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From the Director's Desk Dear APCOVE colleagues, partners, and friends,
It has been a busy and productive start to 2026 for the APCOVE Consortium. As we move into the most intensive period of the project, I'm pleased to share the strong momentum building across all four of our core activities.
Our Applied Field Epidemiology Training program is delivering Outbreak Investigation Workshops in Cambodia and Laos this month, with mentored field projects in PNG and Timor-Leste set to begin mid-year. Meanwhile, Intermediate Field Epidemiology trainees across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have commenced their six-month research projects – 40 applied studies tackling priority animal health and zoonotic disease issues in their local contexts. Development of our Applied One Health Training curriculum is well underway, guided by cross-country competency priorities, and co-design of the eLearning teaching and mentorship modules continues to progress with delivery planned for later this year.
I want to extend warm congratulations to Professor Widagdo Sri Nugroho on his well-deserved promotion at Universitas Gadjah Mada, and to Associate Professor Vannaphone Putthana on his appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos. Their achievements reflect the calibre of our partnership.
I'd also encourage you to read Thuy Hoang's impact story - a wonderful example of how APCOVE training can open doors to further study and meaningful research careers.
Finally, we were delighted to host leading Japanese veterinary epidemiologists in December last year, exploring how APCOVE's model might inform field epidemiology training in Japan. It's a testament to the Consortium's growing reputation in the region.
Thank you to all our partners, mentors, and trainees for your continued commitment. There is much to look forward to in the months ahead.
Warm regards,
Navneet Dhand
Director, APCOVE
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APCOVE Phase II ActivitiesPhase II aims to further strengthen the capabilities of the animal health workforce across the Asia-Pacific region, equipping them to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks. Over the last quarter, we have made significant progress in achieving this objective through the following key activities:
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Activity 1 Update: Applied Field Epidemiology Training
by Professor Joerg Henning Outbreak Investigation Workshops are underway in Cambodia (17–20 March) and Laos (24–27 March). The workshops aim to strengthen the capacity of frontline veterinary professionals to detect, respond to and mitigate infectious disease emergencies.
Participants undertake training in outbreak preparedness, followed by two days of practical field-based learning using cattle and poultry outbreak scenarios. The final day focuses on analysing and integrating collected outbreak data to inform response strategies.
The workshops are led by Prof Joerg Henning and Dr Shukriti Sharma (UQ), Dr Suman Gupta (CSU), Dr Andrew McFadden, (UQ), Dr Vannaphone Puthana (National University of Laos) and Tum Sothyra (NAHPRI, Cambodia), with special thanks to Lida Kong and Heng Theng for coordination in Cambodia and Khounzup Inthavong in Laos.
Looking ahead, six-month mentored field projects are currently being planned and are set to begin in May/June 2026 in PNG and Timor-Leste. We look forward to introducing these projects in the next newsletter.
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Outbreak Investigation Workshops, Cambodia participants (Top) and Lao participants in the field (Bottom)
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Activity 2 Update: Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training
by A/Professor Navneet Dhand Following the Study Design Workshops delivered in late 2025, Intermediate Field Epidemiology trainees in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have commenced six-month mentored field research projects.
Each country supports ten applied research projects, addressing priority animal health and zoonotic disease issues in their local contexts. Trainees are guided by in-country mentors, with additional mentorship support provided by partners in Australia and New Zealand, strengthening regional collaboration.
This activity will culminate in a manuscript writing workshop in October 2026, supporting participants to translate their field research into publishable outputs and practical impact.
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Meeting of APCOVE Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training mentors, February 2026
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Activity 3 Update: One Health Training
by Dr Caitlin Pfeiffer Development of the Applied One Health Training program is now underway, following completion of competency prioritisation activities across all partner countries. This process identified 10 cross-country‑ One Health training priorities, which are now guiding the design of the curriculum and learning materials.
Consortium partners have commenced co-development of training content, with face-to-face delivery workshops being planned for late 2026 and early 2027, followed by country group projects. This marks an important step toward delivering practical One Health skills that strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration in disease investigation and control.
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Activity 4 Update: Epidemiology Teacher and Mentor Training
by Professor Annette Burgess and Prof Jenny-Ann Toribio Co‑design of the 10 eLearning teaching and mentorship modules continues, with strong collaboration across partner institutions. We are pleased have Dr Christie Van Diggele, Academic in Professional Development and Interprofessional Learning, join the Activity 4 team for the quality review phase of these valuable teaching assets. Planning is also progressing for the face-to-face Teacher and Mentor Training Workshop to be hosted in Singapore in November 2026, which will include teaching observations at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
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APCOVE Study Design Workshops continue across the region: Philippines and Vietnam
Following the successful delivery of Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshops in Malaysia and Indonesia (reported in our previous issue), APCOVE continued its regional capacity‑building program with two further workshops in the Philippines and Vietnam.
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Philippines workshopAPCOVE delivered its Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshop in Manila from 26–28 November 2025, engaging 20 veterinary professionals from across the Philippines.
The workshop was formally opened by Dr Rodel Jonathan Vitor II, President of the Philippines College of Veterinary Epidemiologists (PCVE). Over three days, participants refined their field study proposals through concept refreshers, hands-on activities, structured group work, and iterative feedback sessions. Each participant presented an improved study proposal at the close of the workshop.
This event was delivered through strong collaboration between the APCOVE Philippines team (Drs Caroline Benigno, Rodel Jonathan Vitor II, January Nones, Cookie Barroga, and Sheina Manalo) and APCOVE’s Australia-based members (Drs Sandra Steele, Simon Firestone, and Charles Caraguel).
The workshop focused on:
- Framing research topics for optimal impact
- Designing study protocols aligned with research objectives
- Assessing project feasibility and aligning design with available resources
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Vietnam workshopAPCOVE’s next workshop was held in Da Nang, Vietnam, from 1–3 December 2025, bringing together 13 veterinary professionals for an intensive, collaborative training experience. The workshop was officially opened by Mr Nguyen Dinh Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations (DANUSTA).
Participants strengthened their study design skills through a blend of conceptual refreshers, practical exercises, and small-group work with structured feedback. Each trainee presented their refined project proposal at the conclusion of the workshop.
The Vietnam workshop was facilitated by the APCOVE Vietnam team (Drs Phuc Pham Duc, Vũ Thị Thu Trà, and Mai Thị Ngân) in partnership with APCOVE’s Australia-based members (Drs Sandra Steele, Simon Firestone, and Charles Caraguel).
The training program followed the same three-part structure used across all APCOVE study design workshops, culminating in the selection of 10 top projects per country for implementation in 2026.
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Congratulations to our APCOVE colleagues
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Professor Widagdo Sri Nugroho (L), A/Prof Vannaphone Putthana (R)
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Professor Widagdo Sri NugrohoWe are delighted to announce the promotion of Dr. drh. Widagdo Sri Nugroho, to Professor in Field Epidemiology and Animal Health Policy in the Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Professor Nugroho brings more than 15 years of expertise in field epidemiology and animal health, contributing extensively to disease surveillance, training, and policy development in the Asia-Pacific region. His leadership and dedication to advancing veterinary public health are truly inspiring. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement!
Associate Professor Vannaphone PutthanaCongratulations also go to Associate Professor Dr. Vannaphone Putthana, who has been promoted to the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos.
This well-deserved recognition reflects his outstanding contributions to national and international collaboration, teaching, research and service, especially on the ground with local governors and farmers over the past 23 years. His success also highlights the impactful outcomes of collaborations, including our APCOVE partnership.
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APCOVE Impact Story - Thuy Hoang, Vietnam
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From research assistant in Vietnam to PhD student at the University of Sydney, Thuy Hoang shares how the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training helped shape her career in One Health and disease ecology.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My background is in veterinary medicine and ecology, with a strong interest in understanding how diseases emerge at the interface between wildlife, livestock, and people.
In 2022, I had the privilege of being selected to undertake the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training. The program strengthened my interest in epidemiology and motivated me to continue developing my research skills in this field.
I am currently a PhD student at the Disease Ecology Lab within the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney. My research focuses on avian influenza at the wild bird–domestic poultry interface, using a multidisciplinary approach to better understand and predict spillover risks.
What was the most important thing you learned from APCOVE
APCOVE helped me see more clearly the role of epidemiology in disease control and decision-making. The training sparked my curiosity about how epidemiological tools can help us understand complex disease systems, which eventually motivated me to pursue epidemiology research in my current work.
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APCOVE hosts Japanese Veterinary Epidemiology Leaders
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The APCOVE team were very pleased to host a visit on 9 December from leading Japanese veterinary epidemiologists: Dr Kohei Makita (Rakuno Gakuen University), Dr Norikazu Isoda (Hokkaido University), and Dr Ryosuke Omori (International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University).
Their visit focused on learning about APCOVE’s activities, training programs and online learning resources, and exploring how the Consortium’s model may inform the development of field epidemiology training for animal health in Japan.
APCOVE representatives Jenny-Ann Toribio, Deborah McGregor and Sandra Steele outlined how the Consortium is strengthening epidemiology capability across the Asia-Pacific region through structured training, applied learning and regional collaboration. Discussions also identified opportunities for future partnership and knowledge exchange.
The program included sharing APCOVE’s approach to skills teaching and assessment, clinical epidemiology training, and current research initiatives, including Day 1 Competencies in Epidemiology and disease ecology research. A virtual meeting was also facilitated with colleagues from the University of Melbourne Veterinary Epidemiology group, further strengthening regional connections.
The visit reinforced APCOVE’s growing international engagement and its role as a regional leader in veterinary epidemiology education.
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Notes- We publish four newsletters per year - feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested.
- You’re receiving this because you attended an APCOVE training, participated in a workshop, or expressed interest in our programs. If this was forwarded to you and you’d like to subscribe, use the link in the footer to join our mailing list. If you prefer not to receive future newsletters, you can unsubscribe using the same link.
- APCOVE is funded by the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government.
- We value your feedback! Share your thoughts at apcove.team@sydney.com.au.
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In case you missed it- From the Director
- APCOVE II Activity Updates
- News: Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshops - Philippines and Vietnam
- Congratulations: Widagdo and Vannaphone
- APCOVE Impact Story: Thuy Hoang
- Japanese colleagues visit APCOVE
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