A team of avian disease researchers from The Pirbright Institute have visited China to strengthen international ties.
The poultry industry is a significant partner in the quest for global food security and provides a significant source of protein for billions of people.
China is among the top poultry-producing countries in the world, but the Chinese poultry industry faces significant threat from avian diseases caused by multiple pathogens.
Pirbright partnered with several academic institutions in China to establish the Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases (CERAD) in 2015.
Designed as a virtual Research Institute, CERAD is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory capability for avian disease research for scientists from academic institutes in both countries.
Pirbright researchers Professor Venugopal Nair, Professor Munir Iqbal and Dr Yongxiu Yao visited several academic institutions to strengthen research collaboration through participation in scientific discussions and presentations.
Professor Nair said: “We were able to join other invited scientists at Yangzhou University for an International Symposium on Important Animal Diseases and Zoonosis and were asked to present on recent advances in infectious disease control. It was very gratifying that the Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, the CERAD partner in China, was recognised as the Joint Laboratory of China and European Countries by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.”
Prof. Venugopal Nair and Mr. Songli Zhang inaugurated the China European Joint Laboratory at a function held at the Bohai Advanced Technology Research Institute in Binzhou.
The UK-China partnership in avian disease research serves as a model for international collaboration in addressing global health challenges.
CERAD also welcomed South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou in Guangdong Province as a new member when the joint Centre was inaugurated at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Guangzhou.
Image caption: Pirbright scientists welcome the South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, as a new member of CERAD in a ceremony at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Guangzhou.