Ekta Patel, a scientist at ILRI, also serves as the One Health communications coordinator. Her research focuses on the livestock-wildlife interface as a key ecosystem in address its role in disease risk management and their function as carbon sinks. Specifically, her work focuses on evaluating disease and antimicrobial risks at the animal-environmental interfaces. This includes an in-depth analysis of the wild-meat value chain and environmental surveillance efforts, aiming to mitigate health risks and promote sustainable ecosystem use and management.
Holding a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a background in Microbiology, she has experience in research related to drug resistance and apicomplexan parasites, contributing to East Coast fever solutions in Kenya. She has led clean water initiatives with Aquaya Inc and worked on fibroblast systems at Isolagen Inc. Her work focuses on infectious diseases, biosecurity, and the effects of climate change and development in Africa.