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Vet school promotes eight staff members to professor
The new professors represent a wide range of specialisations.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has celebrated their contributions to vet science.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has promoted eight members of staff to the title of ‘professor’.

The veterinary school says that these promotions recognise the new professors’ contributions to research, teaching and clinical activities.

It adds that the newly appointed professors represent a wide range of specialisations and offer significant expertise and knowledge to the school.

Among those who received a professorship was Kelly Blacklock, personal chair of small animal soft tissue surgery. Prof Blacklock has a research interest in surgical oncology, particularly canine oral melanoma.

Also promoted to professor is Claudia Hartley, personal chair of veterinary ophthalmology. Her research focuses on ophthalmic diseases of bears which have been kept for bile farming, in the pet trade or as dancing bears for tourists.

Tiziana Liutu’s professorship recognises her work with diagnostic imaging. Prof Liutu centres her research on Computed Tomography (CT) imaging and how it can be used to detect dental disease in horses and cattle.

Samantha Lycett’s promotion to professor celebrates her contributions to pathogen phylodynamics.

In her research, Prof Lycett models the evolution of viruses and bacteria over time in different locations and host species using genome sequences. She focuses on animal and zoonotic pathogens, particularly avian influenza.

Prof Lisa Boden, who is the head of school at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said: “I would like to offer warm congratulations to our new professors and their colleagues, families and friends that supported them along the way. Promotion to professor is a huge achievement both professionally and personally.

“I am also delighted to see the high proportion of women represented at this level of leadership within the School and College.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.