We are honoured to welcome Rafael Ruiz de Castañeda. Dr. Ruiz de Castañeda’s academic background began in zoology and expanded to animal disease ecology and veterinary microbiology. Since its establishment in 2015, he has directed the One Health Unit at the Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. He maintains broad research interests and uses the One Health approach to enhance understanding, assess impacts, and address global health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. His current research examines the eco-epidemiology and multi-dimensional impacts of climate-sensitive diseases such as snakebite envenoming in rural and humanitarian contexts like refugee camps. His work spans multiple countries in Africa, including Cameroon, Kenya, South Sudan, and Morocco, as well as Asia, including Nepal and Bangladesh. Dr. Ruiz de Castañeda pursues innovative approaches to collect conventional and unconventional data by engaging communities through participatory processes. He is committed to increasing AI accessibility for underserved populations. For example, Rafael and his team developed the first AI model to identify snake species from photographs, supporting communities and healthcare providers. He is a strong advocate of One Health and is actively involved in teaching at the University of Geneva and other institutions, as well as in public outreach. He maintains close connections with International Geneva actors operating at the science-policy interface. He has served as a consultant for the WHO for several years.