APCOVE Newsletter
December, 2025
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 | Malaysia Study and Proposal Writing Workshop, 4 - 6 November
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From the Director's Desk Dear APCOVE colleagues, partners, and friends,
As we close 2025, I am deeply proud to reflect on a year of remarkable achievement across the Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology. Phase II has demonstrated the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of our community to building a more resilient veterinary workforce throughout our region.
This year's most significant milestone has been the successful completion of online training by 80 trainees from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam in our Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program. Beginning in May, these professionals worked through 36 eLearning modules across six core competencies, demonstrating exceptional commitment alongside their demanding professional responsibilities.
The momentum continued through November and December with highly successful Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshops delivered across all four participating countries. These intensive workshops in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam enabled trainees to refine their epidemiological research skills and develop high-quality field project proposals. I am particularly encouraged by Malaysia's innovative paired field project model, which may offer valuable insights for future implementation across other countries.
Across our other activities, we have achieved important progress. Activity 1 teams have completed critical focus group discussions and workforce assessments in Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste, with field projects now confirmed for implementation in 2026. Activity 3 concluded comprehensive One Health workforce consultations across all eight partner countries, engaging 71 contributors who will shape our forthcoming training package. Activity 4 continues advancing toward mid-2026 delivery of teacher and mentor training modules, with strong interest expressed by more than 30 veterinary schools at the recent AAVS-SEAVSA meeting.
It is with both pride and profound sadness that we announce the publication of research by our late colleague Frederico Amaral in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Freddie's work on antimicrobial use in fighting cocks in Timor-Leste exemplifies the thoughtful application of APCOVE training to address critical animal health questions. His legacy reminds us of the real-world impact our work enables, and we honour his memory by completing and publishing this important research by his mentor, Abrao Pereira.
As we look toward 2026, we do so with renewed energy and clear direction. Forty selected field projects will commence implementation with mentor support, outbreak investigation workshops will be delivered in Cambodia and Laos in March, educational module development will be completed and our One Health training will enter its development phase.
Thank you to our consortium partners, country coordinators, field coordinators, competency leaders, expert presenters, workshop facilitators, and most importantly, to our trainees whose dedication and enthusiasm continue to inspire us all.
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 We continue to make strong progress, with significant developments in workforce assessments, training design, and preparations for upcoming field-based learning activities in Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
We are synthesising and reflecting on the outcomes of recent focus group discussions, which highlight current capacities, training priorities, and recommendations for the next phase of this activity. The veterinary workforce questionnaire, translated into Khmer, Lao, and Tetum, has now been deployed, and planning is well underway for the outbreak investigation workshops in Cambodia and Laos scheduled for March 2026.
We’re excited to have the topics for the six-month mentored field research projects in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste being confirmed, with participant and mentor arrangements being finalised. While the shortlist of projects is still being refined for Timor-Leste, the following field projects have been agreed for Papua New Guinea:
- The impact of national policies and linkages on disease outbreak reporting from a One Health perspective (supported by James Cook University (JCU)).
- Analysis of animal and human health surveillance components influencing animal disease reporting using Brucella abortus as a model (supported by JCU).
- Analysis of African Swine Fever outbreaks (supported by Massey University).
- After Action Review of the African Swine Fever outbreak response (supported by Massey University).
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Activity 2 Update: Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training
by A/Professor Navneet Dhand A heartfelt congratulations to the 80 trainees from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam who have successfully completed the online training component of the Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program.
Beginning in May 2025, trainees worked through 36 APCOVE eLearning modules across six competencies: Fundamental Epidemiology, Outbreak Investigation and Response, Surveillance and Data Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disease Control, One Health and Biosecurity, and Leadership and Communication. They also participated in competency-specific introductory and interactive sessions with APCOVE experts.
After completing the online training at the end of October, trainees attended an online preparation session designed to support the initial development of their field project proposals. This was followed by in-person Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshops, delivered by the APCOVE team in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines in November, and in Vietnam in December. These workshops enabled trainees to strengthen their epidemiological research skills, refine their study designs, and prepare high-quality field project proposals to be implemented in 2026.
From the 80 trainees, a total of 40 field projects will be selected by APCOVE’s expert review team. The selected projects will proceed to the next phase, where trainees will implement their studies over a six-month period with support from APCOVE mentors and country partners.
We extend our sincere thanks to our competency leaders, invited expert presenters, and workshop facilitators for their expertise, guidance, and exemplary role modelling throughout the training and workshop series.
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Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program participants, Vietnam
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Activity 3 Update: One Health Training
by Dr Caitlin Pfeiffer APCOVE’s One Health activity team have recently completed the country-level consultations for the forthcoming One Health training package. Each of the eight APCOVE partner country teams convened a group of experts in the current state of the One Health workforce, representing the different sectors and stakeholders relevant for One Health.
We are extremely grateful to everyone who took time to contribute, with a total of 71 active contributors to the consultation process across the eight countries who engaged through surveys, online meetings and WhatsApp conversations. While each country has unique strengths, challenges and contextual factors when considering One Health implementation and capacity building, there is also much in common to underpin the learning outcomes for APCOVE’s training. We thank every contributor for their time and insights and are now preparing a regional overview integrating results from all eight contributing countries.
APCOVE’s One Health training program will be delivered from late 2026 into 2027, and is designed to complement other national and regional training initiatives with a focus on the critical ‘core competencies’ of One Health.
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Activity 4 Update: Epidemiology Teacher and Mentor Training
by Professor Annette Burgess and Prof Jenny-Ann Toribio The co-design of the 10 eLearning modules for teacher and mentor training is making great progress, with draft content for modules now being converted into interactive eLearning packages. All modules remain on track for completion by mid-2026, ahead of the in-person Teacher and Mentor Training (TMT) workshop later that year. This workshop will bring together 20 participants from the eight APCOVE partner countries to engage with the modules, strengthen their teaching and mentoring practice, and plan curriculum improvement projects. Calls for nominations will be circulated early in the new year.
To strengthen connections with veterinary schools and better understand regional educator training needs, Jenny-Ann Toribio attended the joint AAVS–SEAVSA meeting hosted by Universitas Gadjah Mada from 6–8 November. As invited plenary speaker, she highlighted the competencies required for a future-ready One Health workforce, with an emphasis on epidemiology and leadership skills essential for managing challenges such as the informal food sector and transboundary animal diseases.
Across the meeting, presentations and discussions reinforced the importance of curriculum evaluation to ensure veterinary schools meet WOAH Day 1 Competencies and the growing demand for pedagogical development for faculty. Representatives from more than 30 veterinary schools expressed strong interest in APCOVE teacher and mentor training and the free eLearning resources currently under development.
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Jenny-Ann Toribio at Southeast Asia Veterinary School Association (SEAVSA) meeting, November 2025
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Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Update
by A/Prof Anke Wiethoelter The Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) stream of APCOVE II continues to make steady progress. Professor Kyoto Kusakabe and her team have completed a comprehensive desktop review of relevant literature, reports, and the existing APCOVE modules. Their work has identified barriers and norms faced by animal health and veterinary epidemiology workers in the region and proposed topics for inclusion in the APCOVE gender training. The team is now consulting with all partner countries to assess the relevance of these topics, determine priorities, and identify areas of special interest. To broaden their understanding, they plan to conduct an online survey early next year, complemented by in-country focus groups and interviews. This ongoing work underscores APCOVE's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and diverse veterinary epidemiology community across Southeast Asia.
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APCOVE Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshops
Malaysia WorkshopAPCOVE conducted a highly successful Study Design and Proposal Writing Workshop in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 4–6 November 2025, bringing together veterinary professionals from across the country. The workshop was officially opened by Dato' Dr Mohd Noor Hisham bin Mohd Haron, Director General of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia.
Over three intensive days, trainees strengthened their epidemiological research skills through a combination of proposal presentations, structured feedback, and hands-on group work. Participants refined their study designs and presented their final proposals at the conclusion of the workshop.
The workshop was facilitated by APCOVE Director Associate Professor Navneet Dhand, Associate Professor Mieghan Bruce (Murdoch University), and Dr Peter Atkinson (University of Adelaide). The APCOVE Malaysia team, Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon, Jamaliah Senawi, Muhammad Nazri, Chyna Yong Suit-B, Mariani Hashim, and Nur Indah Ahmad, provided exceptional coordination and support throughout the event.
The curriculum covered key components of field research design, including:
- Study design methodologies
- Questionnaire development
- Data management
- Sample size estimation
- Research ethics
- Practical, hands-on project refinement sessions
A notable innovation introduced in Malaysia is the paired field project model, where selected trainees will work in pairs on their research projects beginning early 2026. Each pair will receive mentorship from two supervisors—one from DVS and one from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). This approach differs from the individual project-mentor model implemented in other APCOVE countries and aims to enhance collaboration and research quality. If successful, this mentorship structure may be expanded to other countries in the future.
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Study Design Workshop - Malaysia, November 2025
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Indonesia WorkshopAPCOVE, along with its Indonesian partner, Universitas Gadjah Mada's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UGM), delivered a Study Design and Field Epidemiology Training Workshop from November 18-20, 2025, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The workshop was officially opened by Dr Hendra Wibawa, Director of Animal Health at Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture, who emphasised three key objectives: strengthening research design methodologies, aligning participant projects with national priorities, and integrating One Health approaches to consider impacts across human health, animal health, and environmental sustainability.
The workshop was facilitated by APCOVE Director A/Professor Navneet Dhand, alongside A/Professor Mieghan Bruce and Dr Andrew Larkins from Murdoch University. Throughout the five-day program, participants presented their research proposals, engaged in expert-led feedback sessions, and collaborated in focused groups to refine their methodologies before delivering enhanced final presentations.
Professor Aris Haryanto, Vice Dean for Research at FKH UGM, highlighted APCOVE's vital role in advancing evidence-based research and policy development. "Beyond the technical aspects, this workshop provides a platform to strengthen collaboration between professionals and institutions," he noted.
Twenty carefully selected participants attended the intensive workshop following successful completion of APCOVE's online training course. Participant projects addressed diverse and urgent animal health priorities across Indonesia, including foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, avian influenza, brucellosis, anthrax, and rabies, reflecting critical disease surveillance and control challenges facing the country's animal health sector.
Following the workshop, participants will conduct their projects with ongoing mentorship support from Indonesian veterinary institutions, building sustainable epidemiological research capacity while addressing pressing animal health needs.
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Study Design Workshop - Indonesia, November 2025
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Next time: Study Design Workshops - Philippines and VietnamIn our next newsletter, we look forward to sharing highlights from the recently completed Study Design Workshops in the Philippines and Vietnam. Congratulations to all participants, with sincere thanks to our APCOVE partners and workshop facilitators for their valuable contributions.
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Study Design Workshops - Vietnam and Philippines, Nov - Dec 2025
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Advancing knowledge of antimicrobial use in fighting cocks in Timor Leste - In remembrance of Frederico Amaral
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Frederico Amaral (known as Freddie), a Timorese veterinarian who served his country and family as a Veterinary Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry (MAFF) in Dili, left us far too soon when he passed away suddenly in March 2023.
Freddie is remembered for taking every opportunity to learn that came his way and for thoughtful application of new knowledge to answer important questions for animal health in Timor Leste. He was an outstanding Timorese trainee in the APCOVE program (2022-2023) and in the Fleming Fund Fellowship scheme (2021-2022).
Freddie was quick to maximise the benefit gained from these trainings by taking the idea for a survey designed with the Fleming Fund trainers and pushing it to implementation with operational funds and mentorship from the APCOVE project. Conduct of this survey was a unique collaboration between APCOVE and the Fleming Fund facilitated by Freddie, which was also attracted support from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that permitted data collection in 3 municipalities.
With enthusiasm and determination, Freddie trained and led the interviewer team to complete data collection in the capital Dili, and in the remote border municipalities of Bobonaro and Cova Lima. But sadly, he could not complete analysis of his survey data.
In honour of Freddie, the analysis and reporting of this research was continued by Abrao Pereira, a fellow Timorese veterinarian and the APCOVE mentor of Freddie. It is with pride and in remembrance of Frederico Amaral, that the publication of Freddie’s research in Frontiers is announced in this newsletter.
Rest In Peace, our good friend, Freddie Amaral.
Pereira AJ, Amaral F, Coppo MJC, Bailey KE, Ting S, Gilkerson J, Browning GF, Jong JBDC, Toribio JLML. Knowledge and practices related to antimicrobial use in fighting cocks - a survey of fighting cock owners in Timor-Leste. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Sep 29;15:1569037. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1569037
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Southeast Asia Chief Veterinary Officers' Forum on Advancing Regional Animal Health Cooperation through Epidemiology
A/Prof Anke Wiethoelter represented APCOVE at the Southeast Asia Chief Veterinary Officers' Forum on Advancing Regional Animal Health Cooperation through Epidemiology, held 17-18 November 2025 in Sepang, Malaysia.
The forum focused on finalising a theory of change for animal health coordination, collaboration and coordination among ASEAN member states, reflecting a shared regional vision and strategic framework. Discussions emphasised the crucial role of veterinary epidemiology in providing government authorities with essential evidence for informed decision-making across animal and human health sectors.
APCOVE’s influence and work was evident through the active participation of numerous country partner representatives, highlighting the consortium’s pivotal role in fostering regional capacity and collaboration in veterinary epidemiology. The forum was followed by the launch of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) on 19 November. This new centre marks an important step in strengthening regional efforts to control animal diseases and zoonoses. Malaysia will host ACCAHZ for the next four years, helping to improve coordination on animal health issues across Southeast Asia.
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Anke Wiethoelter at Southeast Asia Chief Veterinary Officers' forum, November 2025
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Introducing APCOVE Field Coordinators
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Khampasong Ninnasopha
APCOVE Field Coordinator - Laos We are pleased to introduce Field Coordinator from Lao PDR, Khampasong Ninnasopha. Khampasong works at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos, where he serves as a lecturer in three main subjects: Animal Breeding, Theriogenology, and Veterinary Obstetrics.
Khampasong's professional experience includes work in veterinary epidemiology, zoonotic disease surveillance, and outbreak control. In addition, he has extensive field experience in animal reproduction, disease prevention and control, and epidemiological field practices. He also work on livestock health monitoring, particularly in chicken and swine production systems, to improve animal welfare and farm productivity.
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Zeferino Correia Lopes
APCOVE Field Coordinator - Timor-Leste Zeferino Correia Lopes, known as Zeco, is a dedicated veterinary technician and a youth leader in animal health space in Timor-Leste. A graduate of the Department of Animal Health of the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL), Zeco now serves as a field coordinator for APCOVE Timor-Leste.
Prior to this role, he worked for the Timorese government in managing wildlife and protected animals in Timor-Leste through the National Directorate of Biodiversity under the Secretary of State for Environment.
As a co-founder of JOVET – a local youth organization active in animal health and One Health space in Timor-Leste, he actively coordinates operational activities, engages with with key stakeholders, and spearheads crucial public awareness campaigns regarding zoonotic diseases, including rabies, across the country. I has also contributed to multiple research projects spanning wildlife conservation and cattle health and production.
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Khampasong Ninnasopha (L), Field Coordinator Laos, and Zeferino Correia Lopes (R), Field Coordinator Timor-Leste
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Kong Lida
APCOVE Field Coordinator - Cambodia With a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine from Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia) and a master’s degree in Bio-Veterinary Science from Kasetsart University (Thailand). Lida joined Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) as a project coordinator and based at the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI), Cambodia.
With over 8 years of experience, she has worked in project implementation, project coordination, animal health, and epidemiology as part of one health activities. This has enabled her to gain practical experiences in animal health professional and able to plan for many project activities, including zoonotic disease surveillance (wildlife, livestock, and live bird market), animal health disease surveillance program (domestic animals).
Through her work at national and sub-national levels, she facilitates project activities and supports the delivery of training workshops, field sample collection, diagnostic testing, data management, and report writing. She is also involved in activities related to ISO/IEC 17025, as well as laboratory biosafety and biosecurity at NAHPRI.
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Heng Theng
APCOVE Field Coordinator - Cambodia Introducing Heng, a veterinary professional with a Master’s degree in Bio-Veterinary Science from Kasetsart University (Thailand), where she developed a strong foundation in epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics, and animal health surveillance.
Heng currently works as a Project Officer at the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (NAHPRI), Cambodia, with a focus on animal health research, laboratory systems strengthening, and capacity building for veterinarians through activities such as animal health surveillance and training.
Her epidemiology skills have been strengthened through hands-on experience in both laboratory and field settings. She has supported surveillance programs by supervising sample collection and testing, as well as data collection and management. In addition, she has worked closely with national and sub-national veterinary stakeholders in Cambodia to support improvements in animal and public health.
Heng is passionate about strengthening veterinary epidemiology and looks forward to contributing her technical experience to the APCOVE team to enhance veterinary epidemiology capacity in Cambodia.
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Kong Lida (L) and Heng Theng (R), Field Coordinators Cambodia
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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 - Malaysia and Indonesia
- In rememberance of our friend Freddie
- Southeast Asia CVO Forum
- Introducing APCOVE Field Coordinators
- Notes
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