Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 15th June 2012
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Research Club launched to tackle animal disease
Animal Health Research Club to receive £9.5 million

The Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is leading a new research club, aiming to unite farmers, breeders and pharmaceutical companies in the battle against animal disease.

The Animal Health Research Club (ARC) will receive £9.5 million of both public and private money - including from the BBSRC, 12 members companies and the Scottish Government - to help it improve animal health and welfare through better understanding, management and control of pests and pathogens.

Both academic and industrial expertise will be drawn on to create new ideas for keeping animals healthy and free from diseases, with the purpose of minimising the economic damage which generally comes hand-in-hand with disease outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth.

The club's research will focus on four key areas:

  • the fundamental biology of how farmed animals resist pests and diseases
  • the development of new tools for the detection and monitoring of diseases to inform breeding strategies
  • research to help the understanding of why vaccines vary in their effectiveness from one individual to another
  • the determination of the relationship between breeding for production traits and resistance to disease.

Celia Caulcott, director of innovation and skills at BBSRC, commented: "The Animal Health Club is a unique chance to take a broad look at fundamentals of disease. We hope that by encouraging collaborations and helping people to share knowledge across normal sector boundaries we will be able to deliver real impacts that could deliver a big boost to food security."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.