Dr. Laura H. Kahn was a research scholar with the Program on Science and Global Security until 2021. A native of California, Dr. Kahn holds a B.S. degree in Nursing from UCLA, an M.D. from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, a Master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Princeton University. Dr. Kahn is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and is a recipient of the New Jersey Chapter’s Laureate Award. She is a co-founder of the One Health Initiative, an online columnist with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and an editorial board member with the International Journal of Epidemiology. In 2014, she received a Presidential Award for Meritorious Service from the American Association of Public Health Physicians, and in 2016, the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (AVES) awarded her with their highest honor for her work in One Health: the K. F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Head Cane Award.
Research Interests
In the wake of 9/11 and the anthrax crisis, Kahn’s initial focus was on biodefense and public health preparedness against bioterrorist attacks. In her research, Kahn found large gaps in addressing zoonotic diseases, diseases of animals that infect humans, in academia, government, and industry. She published her findings in the CDC’s journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases in April 2006, which helped launch the One Health Initiative, a concept promoting the linkages between human, animal, and environmental/ecosystem health. This concept provides a framework for examining complex issues that threaten the future of humanity and civilization. Kahn’s research interests include food security in an era of climate change, antimicrobial resistance, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and biotechnology research oversight.
Publications
L. H. Kahn, Bacteriophages: A Promising Approach to Fighting Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 9, 2018.
L. H. Kahn, A Plant That Could Save Civilization, If We Let It, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, May 16, 2018.
L. H. Kahn, Antimicrobial Resistance: a One Health Perspective, Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 111, 2017.
L. H. Kahn, Perspective: The One-Health Way, Nature, 543, March 30, 2017.
L. H. Kahn, Can We Remain Food Secure Amid Climate Change?, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September 12, 2016.
L. H. Kahn, One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance, Johns Hopkins University Press, June 2016.
L. H. Kahn, Can Biosecurity Be Embedded into the Culture of the Life Sciences?, Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, 10, 2012.
L. H. Kahn, Who’s in Charge? Leadership During Epidemics, Bioterror Attacks, and Other Public Health Crises, Praeger Security International, September 2009.
L. H. Kahn, Confronting Zoonoses, Linking Human and Veterinary Medicine, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 12, April 2006.
Teaching
Hogs, Bats, and Ebola: An Introduction to One Health Policy (FRS 120). This freshman seminar uses the One Health concept to explore the connections between global health, agriculture, and environmental/ecosystem health. Students learn to analyze government websites and data to develop policy recommendations. Princeton University awarded this course with a 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. Offered: Spring 2019.
Talks
Pests, Pollinators, and Pesticides: A One Health Perspective on Global Health and Food Security, 2018 Entomological Society of America (ESA), Entomological Society of Canada (ESC), and Entomological Society of British Columbia (ESBC) Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 14, 2018.
A One Health Perspective on Food Security in the 21st Century, Calvin Schwab Lectureship Keynote Speaker, One Health Symposium, UC Davis, CA, November 3, 2018.
A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Use, Minimizing the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance from Food Animal Production, The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science, New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY, September 28, 2018.
A One Health Perspective on Antimicrobial Resistance, McCann Health Scientific Council Advisory Board, New York, NY, September 27, 2018.
One Health: A Concept for the 21st Century, 2018 Goddard Forum on One Health, Advancing One Health in Pennsylvania: Zoonotic Disease Challenges, Hershey, PA, August 18, 2018.
Discover the Interconnectedness of Human Sustainability and Earth’s Ecosystems with One Health!, 7th Annual NSTA STEM Forum & Expo, Philadelphia, PA, July 13, 2018.
One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance, Keynote Address, One Health Symposium, International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS), Orlando, FL, January 30, 2018.
A One Health Perspective on Antimicrobial Resistance, ECDC Expert Consultation on One Health Preparedness in Europe, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 2017.
Meat, Monkeys, and Mosquitoes: A One Health Perspective on Emerging Diseases, Invited Lecture, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, November 29, 2017.