Thursday, 10 December 2020
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham celebrates ten years of evidence-based veterinary medicine.
The Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine launched a decade ago to highlight the importance of using an evidence-based approach for veterinary care and the need for good quality research to help facilitate good clinical decision-making.
It is still the only research institution globally with a sole focus on creating and applying evidence-based resources for veterinary practice, along with carrying out research relevant to the cases and conditions practitioners are seeing every day.
Evidence-based veterinary medicine is the process of considering the scientific evidence, along with clinical expertise and specific owner and patient circumstances to make clinical decisions that are best for patients.
A team of experts at the University work directly with the veterinary profession to prioritise and undertake relevant research using appropriate clinical research methods. The team also work hard to generate evidence-based resources and to provide education and training to enhance clinical research and clinical decision-making.
Dr Marnie Brennan, Director of the Centre, says: “Since 2010, there has been a paradigm shift in the veterinary profession, and along with other individuals and groups, we believe we’ve been instrumental in the increased awareness about the value of using an evidence-based approach and the need for good quality research and evidence based resources.”
Over the past 10 years, the team have carried out a range of practice changing work. One such piece of work was a collaborative project between the University and the Pet Blood Bank to investigate the processing method for canine blood banking. The project led to a permanent change in the way blood donations were handled meaning more donations could be made and far few donations wasted and so saving more lives.
The team has also studied the ‘preventive medicine consultation journey’ from when a client makes initial contact with a veterinary practice about preventive medicine, through their visit and beyond. The findings from this work resulted in the provision of novel evidence-based guidance on how to optimise preventive medicine consultations in small animal practice. These findings have proved useful and relevant to vets, veterinary nurses and practice managers, with over 3185 downloads of the guidance since Feb 2019.
The key to our success has been a strong team, passionate about evidence-based veterinary medicine and about contributing back to the profession, along with an openness for collaborating with others."
“It has been inspiring to witness the enthusiasm, drive and motivation of the members of this wider team. Along with external funders and supporters focused on the same key goals as us, we have accomplished great things. I’m really proud of the achievements of our team, and where their dedication has taken them as individuals, and us as a group. The profession needs strong leadership in this area, and through this initiative, we believe we have contributed a much-needed voice for the profession.”
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More information is available from Dr Marnie Brennan at marnie.brennan@nottingham.ac.uk from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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