The Pirbright Institute has signed an international partnership agreement with IZSLER(1), the leading Italian animal disease research body, to jointly produce cutting edge diagnostic kits for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
The new kits have been evaluated to demonstrate excellent reliability, specificity and sensitivity, and are provided in a convenient and user-friendly format designed to increase testing efficiency. They have been jointly developed by IZSLER (The Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zootechnic Institute), and the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WRLFMD) based at The Pirbright Institute.
The partnership agreement, which was signed on 23 February, represents the latest development in a long-standing collaboration between the two world-class institutes. The partnership will continue their programme of collaborative research, which focuses on the development of new diagnostic tools for virus diseases in animals.
Dr Michel de Baar, Director of Business Development at The Pirbright Institute, who led the UK delegation, said: “This important agreement combines the expertise of both institutes to produce future-proofed kits that are able to provide even more accurate and rapid diagnostics for those using them in the veterinary community.
“Our partnership will help to ensure improved diagnostics for FMD are easily available - not just in the UK and Europe, but across the rest of the world too”, he said.
IZSLER will be responsible for manufacturing the diagnostic kits, which will be sold(2) by IZSLER, The Pirbright Institute and their distributors. The revenues will be reinvested by the two Institutes in their respective animal disease research and development programmes.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Andrea da Gama
communications@pirbright.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 231417.
Notes
1. The Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zootechnic Institute (IZSLER) operates within the scope of the (Italian) National Health Service; guaranteeing Veterinary Service activities and collaborations regarding animal health, quality control for foods of animal origin, and the relationship between human and animal settlements and the environment.
2. The new diagnostic kits are available to order now, and further technical information, pricing and ordering details can be obtained by e-mailing: pirbright.kitorders@pirbright.ac.uk.