VLA is one of the world’s larger veterinary laboratory-based organisations, recognised around the world for its contributions to veterinary research and surveillance, for the development and delivery of diagnostic services, and for the provision of reference laboratories. For example, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) formally designates VLA as Reference Laboratory for 13 diseases or topics. The latest addition during the year was as OIE’s first reference laboratory for antimicrobial resistance.

Cattle being tended in Ethiopia where VLA has made a contribution to the control of bovine tuberculosis

Across the world, VLA experts have made a significant contribution to international disease diagnosis and control efforts whether for avian influenza in Asia, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and bovine tuberculosis in Africa, or spongiform encephalopathies in North America. Within Europe VLA experts participate in specialist committees and working groups, we share in collaborative network programmes and joint research projects, while VLA is the nominated Community Reference Laboratory for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

Building on our links with other leading European veterinary laboratories, a wider collaboration has emerged with European veterinary and public health laboratories in an EU-funded network of excellence on zoonoses known as MED-VET-NET. This reflects our growing involvement in public health activities which, within the UK, we are developing in partnership with the Health Protection Agency through a wide range of joint activities.

VLA Research

Applied veterinary research continues to be a key element of VLA’s service provision. Work on tuberculosis is a particular strength with major advances in genomics and post genomics, development of improved diagnostic tests, molecular epidemiology, pathogenesis and vaccine development. This year alone the mycobacterial research team has published 25 peer-reviewed papers including a number in prestigious journals.
Meanwhile our largest research programme, on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, has made significant progress in experimental challenge studies, investigations into rendering practices, and modelling in support of the National Scrapie Plan.

In foodborne zoonoses new insights have emerged regarding the pathogenesis of organisms such as Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli VTEC at molecular and cellular levels.

Microarray technology used for studying the pathogenesis of organisms

As a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Rabies, the Virology team at VLA have worked through their extensive world-wide links to develop a new understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis, particularly of European bat lyssaviruses.

VLA Surveillance

VLA’s unique surveillance network of Regional Laboratories, working in partnership with private veterinary practices, was expanded to include new surveillance centres at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire and at the Liverpool Veterinary School. Both centres have contributed to VLA disease databases as well as enhancing undergraduate pathology training.

Submissions to our regional network for scanning surveillance increased over the previous year and, combined with the application of sample-based denominator data, has led to improved reliability of trend analysis for endemic and emerging diseases. We are working closely with Defra, as well as partner organisations such as Scottish Agricultural College,
to implement the UK Veterinary Surveillance Strategy, in which VLA plays a pivotal role.

The scanning surveillance programme is complemented by specific targeted surveillance projects, and later in this review you can read about our major involvement in the monitoring of many important diseases.
This integrated approach enabled us to respond quickly to an outbreak of brucellosis in cattle from the initial isolation of the organism, through in depth investigation of animals from the affected farms, to definitive typing of the bacilli in our reference facility and participation in the epidemiological studies of the outbreak.

Steve Edwards visiting VLA Langford near Bristol

Laboratory Testing

Efficient, cost-effective testing services underpin all of VLA’s science programmes, including the provision of diagnostic services to veterinary practitioners, consistent and reliable data generation for surveillance, and accurate quality assured results for animals moving internationally. Our testing services operate at all VLA sites, with specialised functions in individual locations, and are supported by a test development programme - currently focused on the application of rapid, molecular technology.

Commercial Income

VLA’s commercial programme reflects the wide range of services that VLA offers and commercial contracts to a value of some £4m were carried out across the Agency. Core services include quality control testing of vaccines, residue and pharmacokinetic studies on antimicrobials and efficacy testing of anti-parasitic compounds, all to recognised and accredited quality schemes.
Our intellectual property rights include patent applications and licence agreements with companies in the animal health industry. Along with three other Government agencies, we were awarded £1 million over three years under the Public Sector Research Establishment (PSRE) Capacity Building Fund to commercialise technology clusters across the partners’ business areas.

VLA Infrastructure

When emphasising the excellence of our science I must not forget the tireless contribution by our support staff. This includes not only those looking after the animals and maintaining the laboratory facilities but all those that work in the business areas to ensure that we meet our financial and other legislative obligations. Without them we would not be able to deliver the wide range of science to our customers!

A very obvious activity this year - if only for its size - has been the construction and associated works for a new laboratory at the Weybridge site. This takes forward our long term plans for redevelopment of this site.
Jim Scudamore, Chief Veterinary Officer, performed the official ‘topping-out’ ceremony in October 2003, and it will become operational in 2005 - more of that in next year’s review.

Jim Scudamore, the Chief Veterinary Officer, laying the last brick on VLA’s new serology and microbiology laboratory

Other highlights include our successful reassessment as an Investor in People, the development of a new safety plan following an extensive audit by the Health and Safety Executive, and the progressive extension of our externally audited quality assurance schemes.

VLA Future

I hope you find this review interesting - I certainly find it stimulating to be surrounded by so much scientific achievement and to see how our efforts contribute to a sustainable and successful livestock industry. I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those that have contributed to VLA’s achievements - not least the many friends, colleagues and advisers from outside VLA who contribute so much to our scientific and corporate management.