On Thursday 17th March the IAH, in collaboration with BBSRC, hosted a Networking Event "Protecting UK livestock from the threat of viral disease" at Church House, Westminster.
The purpose of the event was to share knowledge and facilitate partnerships for action across the animal health research, livestock and poultry sectors.
Speakers and guests were representative of the IAH and other UK research leaders, the UK livestock and poultry sector, animal health industries and Government. Speakers in the afternoon session were:
- Welcome and introduction
- Prof David Paton, Acting Director, IAH
- Science into practice: lessons learnt from successes against rinderpest and bluetongue
- Dr Chris Oura, Head of the Non-Vesicular Reference Laboratories, IAH
- Engaging with farmers
- Mr Gwyn Jones, Vice President, NFU
- Partnerships for the control of virus diseases IAH-Roslin Institute partnership - working together to develop veterinary vaccines
- Prof Ivan Morrison, Head of the Division of Infection and Immunity, Roslin Institute
- Harnessing the latest medical advances to veterinary vaccinology
- Prof Adrian Hill, Director, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
- Countering threats to the UK and global poultry industry
- Prof. Venugopal Nair, Head of the Avian Infectious Diseases Programme, IAH
- Challenges and opportunities - an industry perspective
- Dr Jim McKay, Group Director for Science & Technology, EW Group (Aviagen Group)
- Preparing for emerging threats
- Prof David Paton, Acting Director, IAH
- Translating research into products, an industry perspective
- Dr Paul van Aarle, Director Institutional Sales at Intervet/Shering-Plough Animal Health
- Strategic partnerships for emergency response capacity
- Mr Paul Townsend, Head of Laboratory Services, Veterinary Laboratories Agency
- Concluding remarks
- Mr Nigel Gibbens, Chief Veterinary Officer, Defra
Prof. Joe Brownlie, Royal Veterinary College & Chair, IAH Trustee Board
The second, networking session, was introduced by Professor Doug Kell, CEO of BBSRC, who also asked the IAH's Director Designate Professor John Fazakerley to say a few words. A review of the key points of the day was then made by Professor Paton , Mr Gwyn Jones (NFU) and Mr Nigel Gibbens (CVO).