Global Disease Biology

One Health recognizes human health is closely related to the health of our animals and environment. One Health involves cooperation between experts in human, animal, and environmental health to combat health threats [2]. Pertaining to animal health, the One Health approach is essential to coordinate multi-sectoral prevention, preparedness, and response efforts of zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases include those that can transfer from animals to humans (called spillover) or humans to animals (called spillback).

Hey Aggies! For this week, I wanted to spotlight some of the amazing talent that we have on campus. Here is a guide to just some of the incredible student run groups on campus that are worth going to watch (or even perform in)!

UC Davis isn’t just about labs, lectures, and late-night study sessions—it’s also home to some seriously talented student performers. Whether you're into jazz, K-pop, improv comedy, or orchestral video game soundtracks, there’s a group here doing it live—and often for free or student-discounted prices.

Hello! I’m Avalon, and I graduated from UC Davis in Spring 2020 with a B.S. in Global Disease Biology. My academic journey began at Sacramento City College, where I majored in Chemistry with plans to pursue a pre-dental track. However, a summer research internship at the USDA Agricultural Research Service researching Shiga-toxin producing E. coli opened my eyes to the exciting field of agricultural research and how much I loved being in a lab. At UC Davis, I further solidified my interest in research as an undergraduate in Dr. Nitzan Shabek’s lab in Plant Biology.

Hi all! I’m Mavis, a 4th-year GDB + public health sciences minor. Back in high school, GDB caught my eye due to its unique nature and structure, which was only exclusively offered at UC Davis. I’ve always known from a young age that life sciences was my niche, and GDB’s curriculum nurtured my curiosity in health. With its extensive connection with so many departments through its One Health lens, I was able to curate the major into anything and everything I was interested in.

This month’s episode features GDB student, Nana Yansane. Nana’s practicum project is titled “SQR Expression Maintains Intestinal Hypoxia Which Prevents Facultative Anaerobe Growth in the Murine Gut.” She completed her practicum project with post-doc Dr. Anaïs Larabi under the guidance of her PI, Dr. Andreas Baumler, in the Baulmer Lab (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology).

Links & Information

Sometimes Spring Quarter can feel like running a marathon! Staying locked in on studying can feel impossible especially when the gorgeous weather is calling your name through the window. I’m here to hopefully offer some helpful tips to our GDB community on how to stay energized and motivated throughout this final stretch of the academic year. Let’s break free from the slump and finish strong—here’s how!

Hello! My name is Ivan (he/him), and I graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Global Disease Biology (GDB) in 2018. I was originally admitted as a psychology major, but I switched to GDB the summer between my freshman and sophomore years after developing a strong interest in One Health and realizing my passion for ecology.

Looking for some fun springtime activities to try in Davis? Check out this list!

• Tabby Tea Cafe 
  • https://cattalesdavis.com/cat-lounge-adoptions/ 
  • 606 W Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616
  • $10 an hour; can get a boba or other complimentary drink of choice 

This post is spotlighting two influential individuals in human health: Dr. Atul Gawande and Dr. Shiriki Kumanyika. Both of these individuals have held long, multidisciplinary careers in human health, and both have held positions in federal departments/agencies. Dr.

Finals week can be a stressful time for many students, and your GDB Advising team is here to support you! Below, you can find lists and links to helpful resources about academic policies and wellness resources. 

For reference, you can find the Winter Quarter Dates and Deadlines from the University Registrar here. 

This month’s episode features fourth-year GDB student, Anjolie Doan (she/her). Anjolie's practicum project is titled "MARCKS in Macrophages Contributes to Lung Cancer Progression." She completed her practicum project with her mentor, Dr. Ching-Hsien Chen of the Internal Medicine Department.

Links & Information 

Mentor: Dr. Ching-Hsien Chen

Email: [email protected] 

The GDB Advising Team has complied some helpful resources from UC Davis and beyond to help you stay informed and find the support you need in these uncertain times. Please take advantage of these resources and feel free to reach out to our office if you have any questions.

Hello! I’m Madeline Albert, and I graduated in 2022 with a BS in Global Disease Biology. My academic journey at UC Davis began with a strong interest in science, particularly in human health and medicine. Initially, I started as a general Biological Sciences major, but everything changed when I took the course SAS 13: Disease and Society with Dr. Sara Dye. This course introduced me to the GDB major and ignited my passion for public health and infectious diseases. I was particularly drawn to its focus on One Health and the emphasis on undergraduate research.

My name is Emma and I’m a 3rd year GDB major! To me, this major means changing your perspective to see the interwoven aspects of health. I love how customizable GDB is as the restrictive electives allow us to specify our interests and look at disease from so many different angles. The GDB curriculum has given me an interdisciplinary understanding of disease as well as a solid foundation in biology that will help me contribute to improving our society’s health issues.