Two URCA Projects Nominated for the MOPGA 2025 Awards: A Tribute to Excellence in One Health Research

The University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) stands out on the international stage with two of its research projects nominated for the prestigious MOPGA Awards 2025. These Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) prizes, awarded by Campus France and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, provide 125 fellowships in 2025. They enable young international researchers from 42 countries to carry out a 12-month research stay in France starting next academic year.

Recognition for research with strong health and environmental impact

Among the nominated projects, the one entitled “Diversity of Sand Flies and Risk of Leishmania Transmission in Tourist Caves of the Río Claro Natural Reserve (Antioquia), Colombia”, led by Jérôme Depaquit of the ESCAPE unit (EpidemioSurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in Environments), will host Laura Cristina Posada Lopez. This project perfectly illustrates the integrated One Health approach. It focuses on analyzing the biodiversity of sand flies—vectors of leishmaniasis—in a sensitive tourist area of Colombia. The goal is to assess the risks of transmission of this parasitic disease. Combining biology, public health, and ecology, the project seeks to propose tailored prevention strategies that are vital for protecting both local populations and visitors.

Continuing in the spirit of One Health, the SEBIO unit (Environmental Stressors and Biosurveillance of Aquatic Environments) was also selected with its project “Development of an Active Approach for Assessing the Quality of Water Bodies”, under the scientific supervision of Alain Geffard, which will host Nicresse Léa Guedegba. This award-winning initiative in Benin focuses on developing active and precise methods for monitoring the quality of water resources—a vital component for human health and ecosystem sustainability. The project highlights the inseparable links between environment and health.

Toward a sustainable and shared future

Beyond this recognition, these projects reinforce URCA’s position as a key player in international collaborative research committed to global health. Their scientific and social impact opens promising perspectives for implementing effective prevention policies and raising awareness among the communities concerned.