Dr John Flannery

Dr John Flannery is the Technical Manager of the Non-Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratory which is the EU reference laboratory for bluetongue virus (BTV) and is the OIE Reference Laboratory for bluetongue, African horse sickness, African swine fever, Morbilliviruses and capripoxviruses. John obtained a BSc degree in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and continued his interest in virology through further post-graduate studies. He obtained an MSc and PhD in Microbiology at the National University of Ireland Galway which he completed at the National Reference Laboratory for the bacteriological and viral contamination of bivalve shellfish at the Marine Institute in Ireland.

John has an extensive background in molecular diagnostics and in the validation of methods to ISO/IEC 17025 for the diagnosis of viral pathogens. The maintenance of accreditation and the use of internationally-recognised validated diagnostic assays underpins the work carried out by the Non-Vesicular Reference Laboratory. As Technical Manager, John is responsible for the assays under the scope of UKAS accreditation and is heavily involved in the evaluation and validation of new diagnostic assays.

John is a technical partner of the IAEA VETLAB network which aims to deliver fit-for-purpose and validated reference standards for use in diagnostic laboratories. This involves collaboration with partners in Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire and Cameroon to identify suitable reference material for capripox virus, Peste des petits ruminants virus and African swine fever virus, respectively.

John is involved in an OIE twinning project with Tanzania concerning Peste des petits ruminants virus. The aim of the project is to deliver specialised training and assist with implementing diagnostic tests. A potential goal of the project is for the laboratory to be designated as an OIE regional laboratory and attain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. In 2015, John was one of The Pirbright Institutes scientists who worked in diagnostic laboratories in Sierra Leone as part of the UK response to the Ebola virus.