Engaging in collaborative research and strategic partnerships with the world's leading animal sciences research institute

Developmental Biology

Ambition:
To enhance fundamental knowledge of the control of cellular growth and differentiation aiming to underpin the development of better disease intervention strategies

Key Areas:
Animal stem cells; Animal genetic technology; Animal models of development and disease

World-leading expertise in:

• Large animal and avian transgenics and animal model systems of disease
• Gene targeting and transgenic strategies
• Companion and large animal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and cancer stem cells as well as avian germ cells
• Exploiting avian biotechnology

Further information: Division of Developmental Biology

Genetics & Genomics

Ambition:
To advance understanding of complex animal systems and to develop improved predictive models through the application of numerical/computational approaches in analysis, interpretation, modelling from the level of DNA to whole organisms and populations.

Key Areas:
From Sequence to Consequence – Converting ‘omics Data into Knowledge / Predictive Models; Translation of Quantitative Genetic Information into Breeding Strategies

World-leading expertise in:

• Understanding the genetic control of complex traits, including traits of economic interest (e.g. egg or milk production) and responses to infectious disease, in farmed animals.
• Genetic resistance to disease
• Using bioinformatics as tool to understand biological systems
• Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics
• Modelling Cellular and Tissue Systems
• Epidemiology and Population Biology

Further information: Division of Genetics & Genomics

Infection & Immunity

Ambition:
To enhance understanding of the mechanisms of host defence against infection, and translate this understanding into prevention and treatment.

Key Areas:
Genetics of disease resistance; Innate and mucosal immunity of large animal; Infectious Disease Pathogenesis

World-leading expertise in:

• Innate Immunity
• Macrophages and NK cells
• Receptors involved in pathogen infection
• Mucosal immunity
• Colonisation of host cells
• Immunisation
• Expertise in E coli, Salmonella, C difficile
• Host pathogen interaction
• Bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, S. pseudointermedius, Streptococci, Clostridium difficile
• Theileria species
• Viruses (Influenza, Herpesviruses, Arboviruses)
• Genetics of disease resistance

Further information: Division of Infection & Immunity

Neuropathogenesis

Ambition:
To further the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of both the human and animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and to extend to study basic mechanisms of neuronal development, homeostasis and neurodegeneration.

Key Areas:
Understanding Neurodegenerative Processes in Animals and Humans

World leading expertise in:

• Protein misfolding in neurodegenerative disease
• Neuro-immune modelling
• Nature of TSE infection and routes of transmission
• The healthy and degenerating neuron

Further information: Division of Neuropathogenesis

Veterinary Clinical Medicine

Key Areas:
Natural Models of Human Disease; Veterinary Clinical Trials on Large and Small Animals; One Medicine