Dr Claire Colenutt received the Innovation in Animal Healthcare award on Monday 3 December 2018 at the Guildford Innovation Awards 2018. Dr Colenutt won the award for the creation of a new foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) field test, which could improve disease surveillance and alleviate the burden which it places on many smallholders and subsistence farmers who are reliant on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible livestock.
The new sampling method, which is the result of research funded by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), is able to detect FMDV in the field before animals show any clinical signs of the disease. Importantly for farmers in both developed and developing countries, the new technique requires little expertise as it consists of a simple swab taken from any area within a farm environment.
The innovation augments current surveillance methods that rely on the recognition of clinical signs in susceptible animals and collection of samples from the infected animals, which requires specific veterinary expertise. Pressure on veterinary services can therefore be relieved and the number of potential samples taken can be increased, enhancing the scope of surveillance, which is vital for controlling outbreaks.
The field test can be implemented in endemic countries, such as parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as part of surveillance programs to supplement understanding of the disease and aid in reducing FMD prevalence. This in turn would improve the welfare of susceptible animals and decrease the global annual economic impact of US$2.3 billion, relieving the socio-economic pressure felt by those in some of the world’s poorest agricultural communities.
This novel surveillance technique could also help support a robust response to outbreaks in FMD-free countries, where the disease can cause catastrophic economic loses such as the 2001 outbreak which was estimated to cost the UK £8 billion.
While samples are currently required to be sent to special facilities for analysis, such as the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WLRFMD) at Pirbright, the next step is to develop a kit that will combine swabbing with portable diagnostic tools. This all-in-one kit would enable rapid detection of FMDV on site in the field, and is currently in the research phase of development at Pirbright.
“I am surprised and delighted to win the award. Science can be a frustrating process so this is a real boost as we work on further developing the test and expanding it into other diseases, which we hope will provide relief from disease for livestock and farmers around the world. I’d like to thank the judge Mark Whiteley, founder of Whiteley Clinics, for choosing my research and to Guildford Borough Council for supporting innovation in Guildford and the surrounding area”, said Dr Colenutt.
“This is an exciting new approach that will extend the work we can do on FMD and other devastating livestock diseases. It is great that Claire’s work has been recognised by this award”, said Dr Simon Gubbins, Head of the Transmission Biology group at Pirbright.
The Guildford Innovation Awards are aimed at celebrating inspirational innovation and promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths ('STEM') subjects in Guildford and surrounding areas. This is the second year the awards have run, with Pirbright’s former PhD student, Tom Whitehead, securing the 2017 Young Innovator of the Year award.
ENDS
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About The Pirbright Institute
The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. Based in the UK and receiving strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Institute works to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience.
With an annual income of nearly £32.1 million from grants and commercial activity, and a total of £14.3 million strategic investment from BBSRC during 2017-2018, the Institute contributes to global food security and health, improving quality of life for animals and people.
For more information about The Pirbright Institute see: www.pirbright.ac.uk
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The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
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