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Louisiana One Heath In Action (LOHA) has donated $10,000 to support research at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory (IPRL). This research laboratory, directed by Edward B. Breitschwerdt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), is where Galaxy’s proprietary BAPGM™ enrichment culture was developed. Dr. Breitschwerdt is also Chief Scientific Officer and Cofounder at Galaxy Diagnostics and Adjunct Professor of infectious disease at Duke University.
“Thanks to this support from LOHA and other donors, we now have the largest vector-borne infectious disease research team in the history of the Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory,” said Dr. Breitschwerdt. “Our team is collaborating with several medical schools in the US, Brazil and Spain. LOHA’s past and present financial support has made these research collaborations possible. We apply every research dollar directly to solving medical problems associated with vector-borne pathogens.”
Amy LeBoeuf, BS, MEd, founded Louisiana One Health In Action (LOHA) after her son became ill with chronic Bartonella species infection. Her commitment to One Health education includes serving as Chair of One Health Education, US for the One Health Commission while also continuing her career as a middle school teacher.
“What Amy has accomplished represents a rising trend in grassroots advocacy to build awareness and fund research that has a profound impact on patient outcomes,” said Amanda Elam, PhD, CEO and Cofounder of Galaxy Diagnostics. “Patients and their families can truly drive the development of new clinical solutions at the forefront of infection-associated chronic illness and rare diseases through community outreach and fundraising.”
LOHA’s flagship fundraiser is their popular Walk & Wag for One Health event, a 5K race and 3K fun run that is held in Sulphur, Louisiana, in person and as a virtual event. Galaxy Diagnostics is a proud sponsor of LOHA and this One Health event.
“Because our family has been so deeply impacted by our son’s journey through Bartonellosis, it is an honor to give back to Dr Breitschwerdt’s lab at NC State. They are the global leaders in research of Bartonella and furthering the understanding of how it impacts the health of people and animals,” Ms. LeBoeuf explained. “Concepts that help children learn how human, animal and environmental health are interconnected are at the core of understanding what impacts disease risk. We are trying to do our part through events like Walk & Wag for One Health to help bridge these gaps and address vulnerabilities of our children and our community.”
Ms. LeBoeuf has grown LOHA to include K-12 educational programming and community events, like the annual Walk & Wag for One Health. The event has grown each year and so has the amount raised and donated to the NCSU Bartonella Project. LOHA provides One Health education and advocacy to human, animal and environmental health professionals as well as media and local communities. LOHA represents an excellent example of how patients and their families can turn a challenging health odyssey into disease advocacy and better awareness about One Health risks and opportunities in the local community.
Galaxy Diagnostics is a One Health company commercializing diagnostic solutions driven by research at North Carolina State University and other universities on emerging infectious diseases at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.
Find out more about Louisiana One Health in Action: https://www.louisianaonehealthinaction.org/
Find out more about Galaxy Diagnostics: https://www.galaxydx.com/about-us/
Find out more about One Health: https://www.onehealthcommission.org/en/why_one_health/what_is_one_health/