Carla Maia, Principal Investigator at the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (IHMT NOVA), has been awarded the 2026 WSAVA Global One Health Award by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
The international award recognises her exceptional contribution to advancing the One Health approach, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. In particular, the distinction highlights her work bringing companion animals into the centre of the One Health agenda, emphasising their relevance not only in the context of zoonotic disease transmission, but also as valuable sentinels of environmental and climatic change.
Carla Maia is a veterinarian whose research has focused extensively on parasitology, vector-borne diseases and their implications for animal and human health. Her internationally recognised work on Leishmania and phlebotomine sand flies encompasses epidemiology, diagnosis, vector–pathogen–host interactions and disease transmission. More recently, her research has also expanded to phleboviruses and tick- and mosquito-borne agents of zoonotic and veterinary importance.
A central dimension of her research has been the study of how climate and environmental changes influence the distribution and transmission of vector-borne diseases, and how these changes affect different species. As researcher from VBD-GHTM Research Group at IHMT NOVA, Carla Maia is involved in major European research initiatives, including PLANET4HEALTH and ISMED-CLIM, building on her previous leadership of the CLIMOS project.
Her contribution, however, extends beyond scientific research. Throughout her career, Carla Maia has worked to connect researchers, veterinarians, public health professionals and experts from different disciplines, while translating scientific evidence into knowledge that can be applied in veterinary practice.
This practical dimension was also highlighted by the Portuguese Association of Small Animal Veterinarians (APMVEAC), which emphasised her ability to bring knowledge about vector-borne zoonoses “out of the laboratory and into the consulting room”, helping veterinary clinicians recognise, prevent and manage these diseases with greater confidence.
The award also recognises her contribution to education and mentorship, as well as her commitment to fostering collaboration across disciplines and supporting the next generation of researchers and One Health professionals.
“I feel deeply honored to receive the 2026 WSAVA Global One Health Award, and I sincerely thank the selection committee for this recognition. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work in the field of vector-borne diseases throughout my career.”Carla Maia
Reflecting on the distinction, she added that the award represents not only recognition of her own work, but also a tribute to the colleagues, students, collaborators, partners and pet owners who have contributed to this journey, as well as to the organisations that have supported the research.
The 2026 WSAVA Global One Health Award reinforces the importance of collaborative and integrated approaches to today’s health challenges. By connecting animal, human and environmental health, and recognising the role of companion animals within this framework, Carla Maia’s work contributes to strengthening the One Health perspective in research, veterinary medicine and public health.
This international recognition also highlights the contribution of GHTM | IHMT NOVA to the development of multidisciplinary research and integrated responses to emerging challenges at the interface of health, climate and the environment.
Congratulations to Carla Maia on this important international distinction!
