Dr. Sajid Umar is an infectious disease researcher specializing in the evolution and zoonosis of respiratory pathogens, such as influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and adenoviruses. He is currently a visiting Assistant Professor at the Global Health Research Center (GHRC) at Duke Kunshan University, China. He is passionate about human and animal health research and manages the One Health Research & Training Network, which focuses on the health of humans, animals and environment (One Health). The network concentrates on studying emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, pathogen evolution, and antimicrobial resistance. Over the years, he has gained considerable laboratory experience in BSL-1 to BSL-3 environments using serological and molecular diagnostic techniques and has worked extensively in multiple countries on veterinary public health projects. He applies an interdisciplinary One Health approach to identify occupational diseases associated with respiratory viruses among individuals in contact with livestock and companion animals. He explores zoonotic and reverse zoonotic events, evolution, and antimicrobial resistance using advanced epidemiological, pathological, and metagenomic strategies. In addition to his epidemiological research, he has a strong passion for global health and scientific research capacity building. This includes student training, the development of new collaborative international research networks, and laboratory infrastructure to advance diagnostic approaches for the surveillance of respiratory pathogens in healthcare settings, livestock farms, schools, airports, and subways.