November 3, 2014

Zoetis teams up with research group to put up livestock disease centre

Zoetis and the Easter Bush Research Consortium (EBRC) are joining hands in setting up a new research centre which would identify emerging diseases in livestock and other animals.

The facility, to be based in Edinburgh, Scotland, will be staffed by veterinarians, scientists and technical specialists.

The project, Zoetis' said, forms part of its global efforts to enhance control over emerging animal diseases.

Zoetis said the research center will bring together "expertise in pathology, rapid genetic sequencing and molecular biology from University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies; laboratory diagnostic and surveillance expertise from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC); and high contaminant level laboratories and expertise in infectious diseases from the Moredun Research Institute, integrating them with the research and development and specialised infectious disease capabilities of Zoetis."

Michelle Haven, veterinarian and senior vice-president of corporate development, alliances and solutions at Zoetis, said that "enhanced surveillance to identify these threats early makes it possible to speed development of high quality medicines and vaccines to help control these diseases."