Disease, epidemiology, and pathobiology
Providing a detailed understanding of the biology driving disease persistence, prevalence, and spread in companion, livestock, and production animals, plants, and crops.
At SRUC, our disease, epidemiology, and pathobiology research aims to provide a detailed understanding of the biology driving disease persistence, prevalence, and spread, and how the biology scales up from individuals to populations -in plants, animals, and humans. It explains how this interacts with behaviours, practices, and policies to help determine the patterns of infection seen in host communities and the efficacy of disease control strategies.
Much of our research takes a systems-approach to frame disease challenges and problem-solve disease risk at a range of scales -from farmers, veterinarians, and agronomists tackling specific disease challenges, to the global grand challenge of disease control, climate change, food security, and antimicrobial resistance.
Our featured disease, epidemiology, and pathobiology work:
Disease, epidemiology, and pathobiology work in SRUC news:
Innovative sensor to help tackle pneumonia in dairy calves
A new sensor developed through a UK-wide innovation programme led by SRUC is helping dairy farmers prevent pneumonia in calves by monitoring pen-level conditions before illness can take hold.
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Scientists lead world-first study to track antibiotic resistance in pets
Scientists in Scotland will lead the world’s first study of antibiotic resistance levels in the nation’s pet population to help reduce infection risks for animals and humans.
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AI biosecurity tool could help save farmers time
Scientists are developing a new webtool which will use Artificial Intelligence to give time-pressured farmers tailored advice on how to protect their livestock from disease.
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New health web app to improve farm productivity
A dynamic new web application has been designed to enhance health risk management for beef and sheep farmers and their vets.
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Top biologist among those honoured with SRUC Fellowship
A biologist recognised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of one of ten people in the UK changing the face of health is among those to have been honoured with a Fellowship from SRUC.
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Veterinary Diagnostics Company MI:RNA Raises $4 million Series A Funding
MI:RNA, the veterinary diagnostics company which originally spun out of SRUC, has secured $4 million in Series A funding. The capital will be used to continue global growth plans and revolutionise animal health testing, improving diagnosis and wellness among the pet, agriculture and equine sectors.
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Veterinary services
The Veterinary Services team at SRUC are experts in animal disease, diagnosis, and surveillance with a suite of services that support vets, farmers, and pharmaceutical companies underpinned by research and development activities within SRUC and other academic and research institutions.
Veterinary diagnostics
The SRUC veterinary services diagnostics team provides high quality testing for livestock, companion animals, farmed poultry, captive species, and wildlife.
Livestock health planning
Experts in livestock health planning at SRUC increase knowledge on-farm and improve productivity while safeguarding animal health and welfare.
Premium Sheep and Goat Health Scheme
The Premium Sheep and Goat Health Scheme (PSGHS) at SRUC provides an important framework for establishing the disease status of a flock as well as guidance for reduction, eradication and certification of freedom from disease.
Premium Cattle Health Scheme
One of the largest Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHECS) licenses schemes, the Premium Cattle Health Scheme (PCHS) from SRUC veterinary services is an effective programme of testing and management to control multiple infectious diseases in cattle.
Beekeeping
SRUC supports the importance of healthy bees in Scotland with targeted and strategic education for hobby and commercial bee farmers.
SAC Consulting
Working together with and alongside SRUC veterinary services and research teams, SAC Consulting proudly boasts expert consultancy services that incorporate epidemiology and disease research and experience into independent, industry-leading knowledge and solutions for real-world improvements in farm system success.
SAC Consulting
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