Research
Nottingham is a research-led University, and prides itself on the research reputation and culture of its component Schools. Research is central to the activities of the School, both in terms of maintaining itself at the forefront of national and international efforts in the field of veterinary medicine and science but also as an integral part of the training and education for undergraduates and postgraduates. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science joint submission with the School of Biosciences was ranked first in the country for the power of its research with 95% of its activities classified at an international standard.
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science provides a diverse, vibrant and stimulating environment for research and sees its research activity as an important component of its success. The School undertakes research on many key aspects of companion animals and livestock health and production. This research utilizes a diverse range of scientific disciplines including pathology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, physiology and bioinformatics.
Research initiatives are initially based around two broad themes of:
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Reproduction and Integrated Food Chain Research - the key influences on reproductive development, function, fertility and embryo-uterine interactions, the health component of farm animal production, food safety, infectious disease, zoonosis and epidemiology.
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Comparative Medicine - the use of animals as models for human disease – focusing on both spontaneous and induced disease in animals.
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science is establishing itself as a centre of excellence in whole animal biology in line with the overall aims of integrating veterinary biological research within the other relevant schools at the University of Nottingham. This is being done by establishing excellence in research within the two research themes and also through the Clinical Associates, other associated Institutions and commercial organisations such that research is relevant not only to the wider veterinary, biomedical and bioscientific community but also to local consumers of biotechnology and veterinary services. The School is establishing itself internationally in both pure and applied research and acting as a focus for modelling human infectious and non-infectious disease. To this end, there is an emphasis on gaining a greater understanding of normal biology and pathology through exploiting the new technologies of genomics and post-genomics.
Within the two overarching research themes the School is working on five main areas:
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Animal infection and immunity - Elucidating mechanisms of infection, host immune responses and the exploitation of host-pathogen interactions for the prevention and treatment of infection.
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Comparative medicine - Investigating the pathogenesis and management of naturally-acquired or induced diseases in animals as models of disease in man.
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Population health and welfare - Documenting and modelling endemic disease in animals with a view to improving animal welfare and disease prevention and management.
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Reproductive biology - Studying all aspects of reproductive biology including the impact of the foetal environment on post-natal development.
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Veterinary educational research - Capitalising on the establishment of a new Veterinary School by investigating the impact of a novel curriculum and different methods of delivery on learning outcomes.
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science has numerous staff well-versed in animal husba ndry, welfare and health issues who have undertaken a variety of national and international consultancy roles for governmental, industrial and social bodies. They have conducted a range of pre-clinical, clinical and post-marketing trials of valuable drugs and vaccines aimed at improving the health of companion and livestock animals. The School is open to discussions regarding both consultancy and contract research for commercial and other organisations – please contact us directly for further information.
Key Research Equipment Inventory (UoN only)
An inventory of all significant research equipment available within the University of Nottingham