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From Disease Prediction to Field Response via One Health: Seeking a Regional Innovation Model

Infectious disease response strategies that simultaneously consider wildlife, humans, and the environment have entered a stage of serious discussion through the medium of Artificial Intelligence. The Kangwon National University (KNU) RISE Center hosted a forum focused on AI-driven response strategies for human-wildlife zoonotic diseases, sharing integrated solutions based on the One Health approach.

The forum took place from December 18 to 19 in Chuncheon. It was designed to explore AI technology applications for pre-emptively predicting and managing infectious disease risks mediated by wildlife and to establish collaborative frameworks. Led by the KNU RISE Center, the event brought together experts from the College of Veterinary Medicine, wildlife rescue and disease management agencies, and local governments, bridging academia, research, and administration.

The forum centered on the One Health concept, which views wildlife, environmental, and human health as a single interconnected system. Key topics included disease prediction using AI and Digital Twin technology, ecological monitoring, and accident prevention models. The core of the discussion was a shift in paradigm: moving from reactive post-management of wildlife diseases to proactive, preemptive management.

Day 1: AI-Based Ecological Monitoring and Disease Management

The first day featured presentations on AI-driven ecological monitoring and disease management cases. Various research achievements were shared, including:

• The linkage between wildlife and the One Health concept.
• Utilizing Digital Twins in forest and ecological sectors.
• Coexistence strategies between offshore wind power and avian species.
• Roadkill prediction models.
• Research on bat-borne infectious diseases and conservation strategies for endangered species.

These presentations provided concrete examples of how AI technology can be applied to solve complex ecological and public health issues.

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Day 2: Field-Oriented Programs and Practical Capability

On the second day, the program moved beyond theoretical discussion to field-oriented practice. Autopsy sessions for wild boars, sharks, and eagles were conducted to enhance practical understanding of disease diagnosis and the determination of causes of death. This segment was evaluated as an effective way to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners while strengthening actual response capabilities for infectious diseases.

Establishing a Sustainable Regional Cooperation Ecosystem

The KNU RISE Center announced plans to expand AI-based wildlife disease response research into regional strategies and policy linkages. The goal is to establish infectious disease response not as a task for a single institution, but as a collaborative model shared by local governments, industry, academia, and research institutes (Regional-Industry-Academic-Research Cooperation).

Moving forward, KNU intends to develop AI-based One Health research into a sustainable cooperative ecosystem at the regional level through joint research identification and policy reflection, thereby preemptively strengthening response capabilities against zoonotic diseases.

#KangwonNational University #RISECenter #OneHealth #ZoonoticDiseases #AIBasedResponse #WildlifeDiseases #DigitalTwin #InfectiousDiseasePrediction #RegionalCooperation #PublicHealth #EcologicalConservation