Poultry production has been under serious threat from multitude of avian diseases. To improve control of these diseases requires global collaboration and partnership between the researchers and industry. The Pirbright Institute took the initiative to establish the Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases (GARAD) its aim to increase collaborative working among researchers and industry in preventing, controlling and combating avian diseases.
The first GARAD conference took place on 29 June to 1 July 2015 at King´s College London. This inaugural conference attracted over 125 delegates from around the world, and 14 leading experts on avian diseases delivered keynote cutting-edge speeches on issues affecting global poultry production.
Scientific sessions and social events were highly interactive and new collaborative links for research and development were established at the event. The election for GARAD Executive Board representatives from Europe, Asia, Middle East/Africa, Americas and Australia took place at the conference to facilitate further coordination of researchers and industry working on avian diseases and formulate strategic directions and future vision of GARAD.
Discussion sessions at the conference highlighted avian diseases that pose a serious threat to poultry in different regions of the world and those that should be prioritised. Avian influenza, Newcastle disease Infectious Bronchitis and infectious bursal disease viruses were considered a continued threat at a global scale and many other viral bacterial and parasitic diseases are equally causing devastating losses to poultry. All participants were united in the view that increased collaborations between academia and industry was essential for rapid delivery of research outcome to end-users. Industry representatives were equally impressed with GARAD’s objectives with seven supporting the initiative through sponsorship of the conference and exhibiting.
The three-day inaugural GARAD conference was a resounding success, strengthening global collaboration and partnerships among researchers and industry and the next GARAD-17 conference will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam in November 2017.
Read more about GARAD 2015 in the media:
Farmers Weekly - Bird flu threat escalates as virus mutates
World Poultry - Bird flu threat escalates as virus mutates