The
Veterinary Training Research Initiative (VTRI) - VT0102
Intergration of functional genomics and immunology and their application to infectious disease in rumminants
VT0102 led by PROFESSOR HUGH MILLER and PROFESSOR IVAN MORRISON - Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh
Professor Hugh Miller and Professor Ivan Morrison have in their sights three of the banes of the life of the ruminant farming community: bovine tuberculosis, E. coli O157 and the age-old problem of worms. The last might stand for all of them in its persistence, its wide spread and its resistance to a solution.
That’s because deep-seated problems are to be tackled with state-of-the-art technologies. To characterise these diseases much more specifically in affected ruminants, the Edinburgh team aims to use functional genomics to reveal patterns of gene regulation associated with infection. At a stroke, this will deal – for example - with the vexing problem of identifying animals that are O157 carriers but show no sign of infection: the ‘Typhoid Marys’ of meadow and pasture. It will also become possible discover why certain individual cattle or sheep carry and spread worms in grazing with little effect to themselves, and why others are struck down by the infection. The genetic markers unveiled may then enable the breeding out of susceptibility.
This research and training programme has prayed in aid a group of collaborators that reads like a roll call of cutting-edge veterinary research establishments. The Roslin and Moredun Research Institutes and The Institute for Animal Health are just three of the names in a distinguished list of participating organizations. For Professor Miller this is especially empowering for the project, because it means undergraduates and graduates who get involved will find themselves plunged into highly-focussed research environments, far from the everyday demands of veterinary practice to which they’ve perhaps become over-accustomed.
Above all it’s hoped VT0102 will encourage veterinary students at all levels to go on and research in major laboratories, bringing their knowledge back to vet schools to encourage future researchers and stimulate new research on into the 21st century.
Further information is available on Defra's science pages: ‘Integration of functional genomics and immunology and their application to infectious disease in ruminants.’ (VT0102). Information is also available on The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies website.
- First Annual Appraisal
(50 KB).
For more information, please contact the Programme leaders at Hugh.Miller@ed.ac.uk or Ivan.Morrison@ed.ac.uk
Page last modified: 15 September, 2006