Recipients of last year’s MSD Animal Health UK’s Research Bursaries impress judges.

Recently graduated veterinary surgeon Alex Bartlett has won the award for best presentation at the MSD Animal Health UK’s Research Bursaries Awards Day.

Her presentation, ‘Development of isothermal phage-based methods to detect Mycobacterium bovis’, showcased the research she had undertaken after receiving one of last year’s MSD Animal Health UK’s Research Bursaries. At the time, she was in her final year as a veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College.

She impressed a panel of judges which included BVA senior vice-president Malcolm Morley as well as veterinary advisors Nicole De Rosa, Michelle Townley, Stephanie Small and John Helps from MSD Animal Health UK.

The judges heard presentations from four of last year’s bursary recipients at the event on 12 October at the company’s head offices in Milton Keynes.

Zoe Jamieson, a fourth year student at the University of Glasgow, was awarded the runner-up prize for her presentation on using sexed semen to identify best practice guidelines for cow selection.

The other presentations looked at Coxiella burnetii and the influence of MM9 inhibition on the proliferation abilities of canine and human osteosarcoma cells.

Dr Morley said: “It was amazing to hear people who are so passionate about their research, I learnt a lot myself!

“Research is really important as in the veterinary profession so much that we do is evidence based.”
 
The MSD Animal Health UK Research Bursaries are designed to help veterinary students, surgeons and nurses to research the health and wellbeing of livestock and companion animals.

The application for this year’s bursaries closes on Friday, 27 October. Applications can be made on the MSD Animal Health research bursary website.

Dr De Rosa said: “We encourage as many veterinary surgeons, nurses and students to apply and are excited to see the research proposals made. Don’t miss out on the chance to help fund your research ventures.”

Image (C) MSD Animal Health UK