School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

Glasgow excels at veterinary research

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:11:00 GMT

Glasgow ranked top amongst the UK veterinary schools for research quality with the highest score (grade point average) in the recent Research Excellence Framework.

The Zoonoses in Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) programme launches in Tanzania.

Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:00:00 GMT

The Zoonoses in Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) programme has officially launched in a ceremony hosted by our project partners at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science & Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania. The launch was attended by the Tanzanian Minister for Livestock & Fisheries Development, and also members of the Institute who lead three of the eleven projects funded by the programme

Professor Colin Selman - Intervening in ageing through diet and genes

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 16:44:00 GMT

Professor Colin Selman presents his Inaugural Lecture as Professor in Biogerontology in the Institute. The lecture, entitled Intervening in ageing through diet and genes was given as part of the College of MVLS Inaugural Lectures 2014. Colin discusses his early foray into field research in Africa before moving into lab-based research to investigate the mechanisms of ageing.

GARNER: Official launch, Nov 20, 2014

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:34:00 BST

On November 20th, 2014, the Glasgow Ageing Research Network held its official launch

Professor Ruth Zadoks - Molecular Epidemiology: an Interdisciplinary Journey

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 16:44:00 GMT

Professor Ruth Zadoks recently gave her Inaugural Lecture as Professor in Molecular Epidemiology. Ruth, a long time collaborator, was formally appointed to a Professorship in the Institute in 2013. In November she gave a lecture entitled Molecular Epidemiology - an Interdisciplinary Journey as part of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences Inaugural Lectures 2014.

Professor Jason Matthiopoulos - Ecology: A Predictive Science

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 16:44:00 GMT

Professor Jason Matthiopoulos recently gave his Inaugural Lecture as Professor in Spatial & Population Ecology. Jason was formally appointed to a Professorship in the Institute in late 2012, and in November gave a lecture entitled Ecology: A Predictive Science as part of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences Inaugural Lectures 2014.

Diversity in Telomere Dynamics Workshop

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:39:00 GMT

Hosted by Professor Pat Monaghan, along with Dr. Dan Nussey (Unviersity of Edinburgh) and Professor Mark Haussmann (Bucknell University) in Drymen, Scotland.

Major funding for our 'One Health’ research coalition is officially launched

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:00:00 GMT

Researchers in our Institute, together with Glasgow collaborators, have won three grants worth £4.5m to study diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. The grants are all part of The Zoonoses in Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) programme, which were officially launched on 10th November 2014. ZELS is funded by the UK Department for International Development and the UK Research Councils.

Industry award presented to Profs Maureen Bain and Sally Solomon

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 19:49:00 GMT

CONGRATULATIONS to Profs Maureen Bain and Sally Solomon (retired from Faculty of Vet) on receiving the Howie and Dennis Surgenor Cup for outstanding contribution to the Scottish poultry industry.

Photo-SCENE 2014 - Natural History Photographic Competition

Sat, 18 Oct 2014 19:57:00 BST

GNHS and the Institute is organising a photographic competition this year with the aim to promote an interest in natural history and the work of the Institute, promote a greater linkage between GNHS and the Institute, and to provide photographs useful for publicity. £800 of prizes are available and winning entries will be published in the Glasgow Naturalist.

Glasgow in the world top 50 for Life Sciences

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:22:00 BST

The University of Glasgow - and its Life Sciences - have again come out highly in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. These rankings are based on the combined research and teaching strength of institutes of higher education across the world. The rankings for 2014-15 put the University of Glasgow in the top 100 - and its Life Sciences are again ranked in the top 50 (and 7th in the UK).

Rabies elimination is within our grasp, if only we choose to do so

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:00:00 BST

Members of our Institute have published two perspectives articles, raising awareness of rabies and highlighting rabies control as a key test case for One Health approaches.

Artists & scientist meet to explore disease dynamics

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 18:08:00 BST

One of our Research Associates, Dr Paddy Brock, is involved in an exciting and innovative public engagement project called Silent Signal – an arts/science collaboration that brings together six artists and six scientists to creatively explore research into genetics, immunology and epidemiology. Following a development phase the project has recently won full funding from a prestigious Large Arts Award from the Wellcome Trust. We asked Paddy to tell us a little more about the project.

Research highlights: humans have greater impact than food or predators on the epic Serengeti migration of wildebeest and zebras

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:33:00 BST

New research led by Dr Grant Hopcraft in the Institute and Boyd Orr Centre sheds new light on the drivers behind the animals’ migratory decision-making, yet when it comes down to it, the impact of humans trump all other decisions.

SCENE is set for Scotland’s most beautiful classroom

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 18:41:00 BST

The Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland is unveiling new facilities at the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE).

Members of the Tanzania Commonwealth Games Team visit the Boyd Orr Centre

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 20:48:00 BST

August 1, 2014 – On Friday, researchers from the Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health took great pleasure in hosting a lunch for a visiting delegation from the Tanzanian Commonwealth Games team.

Congratulations to Prof Sarah Cleaveland for BSAVA A.J. Wight Memorial Award

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:46:00 BST

The A.J. Wight Memorial Award is presented to recognise outstanding contributions to the welfare of companion animals. Sarah’s nomination was in recognition of the contributions that her work has had in tackling the problem of rabies, particularly in Africa.

Queen’s Birthday Honours for members of our Institute

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 10:29:00 BST

Congratulations to Professors Sarah Cleaveland and Julie Fitzpatrick on their award of OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

DNA study will reveal badgers’ role in spreading Bovine TB

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 22:56:00 BST

Researchers are embarking on a £1m study to establish the extent to which badgers are responsible for spreading tuberculosis in cattle.

Research targeting developing world honoured by the Queen

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:03:00 GMT

Researchers from the University of Glasgow’s Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health were awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today (27 Feb).

Daniel Streicker wins new international prize from Science and SciLifeLab

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:08:00 GMT

The award was created by Science magazine, and SciLifeLab, a centre for molecular bioscience focused on health and the environment. Streicker received the prize, which includes a $25,000 honorarium, on Dec. 9 in Stockholm.

£1.3M India-UK Collaboration in Farmed Animal Health and Disease

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 23:12:00 GMT

The University of Glasgow has been granted over £1.3 million in India-UK Collaboration funding for research into Farmed Animal Health and Disease. Sir Mark Walport, the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser, announced the award during a visit to India. The research projects aim to tackle major livestock diseases which threaten food security in the UK and globally.

Dr Dorothy McKeegan - Drop air pressure to give chickens a stress-free death

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 23:15:00 GMT

Two studies from Dorothy McKeegan, discussed at a Humane Slaughter Association workshop in London last month; the first monitored the stress levels of birds undergoing the process in a small chamber in her lab; the second looked at birds that went through the commercial chamber at OK Foods. In both, the birds lost consciousness without any physiological signs of stress.

Dr Jo Halliday - Rodents provide clues as to causes of human illness in African slums

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 23:22:00 BST

One in five rodents in a Kenyan slum carries a disease that causes fever and illness in humans, a study has found. The study, led by Dr Jo Halliday, discovered a significant percentage of the rats and mice in Nairobi’s Kibera slum – one the largest in the world – were carrying Leptospira bacteria in their kidneys. The bacteria can be passed to humans through contact with urine causing the disease leptospirosis.

Scientists unlock secret of cattle ticks’ resistance to pesticide

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 23:28:00 BST

Scientists have discovered how a tick which transmits devastating diseases to cattle has developed resistance to one of the main pesticides used to kill it. Approximately 80% of cattle around the world, mostly in the tropics and sub-tropics, are exposed to the cattle tick resulting in a major economic impact on farmers.

Vaccinating cattle against E.coli O157 could cut human cases by 85%

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 23:43:00 BST

Drs Louise Matthews & Richard Reeve, with Prof. Dan Haydon were involved in a team vaccinating cattle against E.coli O157 which could cut the number of human cases of the disease by 85%, according to scientists.

Dr Alison Mather with Prof. Dan Haydon & Dom Mellor - Animals "not the source of drug-resistant salmonella"

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:48:00 BST

Livestock may have been wrongly blamed as being the source of a type of drug-resistant salmonella. Greater efforts are needed to identify the major sources of resistance for animals and people, with drug-resistant strains potentially being introduced via imported food products.

Prof. Malcolm Kennedy - The milk of human kindness: providing baby pandas with the bare necessities

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 23:54:00 BST

Researchers in the Institute are leading a study into panda milk, using state-of-the-art instruments to identify and characterise the proteins and other molecules that make up panda colostrum and the later, mature milk. The aim is to help create an artificial milk formula for abandoned or orphaned panda cubs.

Prof. Colin Adams - Prehistoric giant fish could grow more than 16 metres long

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 00:01:00 BST

An international team of researchers from National Museums Scotland and the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh have deduced that a huge bony, plankton-eating fish from the middle Jurassic (165 million years ago) could grow to eight or nine metres in 20 years and reach 16.5 metres in length in 38 years.