The close connection between human and animal health emphasizes the need for a One Health strategy. Veterinarians play an integral role herein and yet our understanding of animal viral diseases and options to manage them remain limited. This is mostly related to a lack of tools necessary to modify animal viruses and cells. My goal is to advance animal virus and host cell engineering to perform fundamental virus research, develop vaccines, and generate antiviral therapies. By combining gene editing with specific and efficient cell delivery techniques, I aim to accelerate the production of infectious clones and mutant viruses, primary cells and explants. This will lead to better understanding of animal diseases, improved veterinary care, and control of infectious disease outbreaks. Ultimately, it will advance One Health by ensuring foot supply and safety while equipping the veterinary workforce with the tools needed to tackle future zoonotic outbreaks.