Albert Osterhaus as a veterinarian with a PhD in Virology from Utrecht University, Ab Osterhaus became head of the Department of Immunobiology at RIVM in The Netherlands. As professor of Virology at Utrecht University and professor and head of the Virology Department of Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, he developed a long track record as PI of numerous international scientific projects, guiding a multidisciplinary team of over 100 “Viroscience” colleagues studying human and animal virus infections. More than 50 human and animal viruses were discovered (e.g. human metapneumovirus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, several influenza viruses), their pathogenesis elucidated, and intervention strategies developed. He helped national and international health authorities like WHO, to combat emerging human infections like SARS, MERS, H5N1 and H7N7 avian influenza. He established several spin-out companies. Currently he is Professor and Founding Director of RIZ at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, where he has established a One Health Institute, that is running several international One Health projects. He is Chair of the European Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) and of the International One Health Platform (OHP). He organised numerous international scientific conferences, holds several senior editorships, published more than 1200 papers (H-index >110), trained >80 PhD’s, received numerous prestigious awards, is member of the Dutch and German National Academies of Sciences, and Commander of the Order of the Dutch Lion.