ARC: Background

A rising global population combined with climate change and pressure on vital resources threaten global food security and an urgent response is needed. Delivering global food security means providing a sustainable, secure supply of good quality food from less land and with more efficient use of inputs. Food security is a key strategic priority for BBSRC (see related links) and we are contributors to Global Food Security (see external links), a partnership bringing together the food related research interests of the relevant Research Councils, Government Departments, Devolved Governments and Executive Agencies.

Through discussions with industry, animal health has been identified as an area where targeted research is required. The cost of animal diseases to the UK economy can be very high, for example the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth cost the UK £8Bn and the long-term risk of dealing with exotic diseases costs UK industry approximately £100M per year. Resistance to disease has been highlighted as a priority area where increased investment in pre-competitive, innovative and industrially relevant research activity would underpin the capacity for the sector to tackle endemic and emerging pest and disease problems.

We have established the Animal Health Research Club (ARC) in order to bring together industry and the research community to support research that improves our understanding of resistance to pests and diseases in farmed animals.

ARC has 12 company members who contribute to funding research and take part in directing the Club's activities. ARC has a total budget of approximately £9.5M:

£965k - Industrial membership subscriptions
£500k - The Scottish Government
£8M - BBSRC

Research challenges

The focus of ARC research will be on improving the resistance of farmed animals to pests and disease organisms (this includes cattle for beef and dairy, pigs, sheep, poultry and salmon). Projects supported through ARC will address key challenges to industry through pre-competitive, innovative and excellent science.

Endemic and emerging diseases coupled with climate change could lead to new and more complex challenges. Research on resistance to pests and diseases will help to ensure:

A secure supply of sufficient, safe and nutritious food for the benefit of the UK and internationally
Contribute to reduced environmental impact and improved animal welfare

ARC's research challenges are:

Understanding the basis of resistance/resilience to pests and diseases in farmed animal species
Developing novel tools for defining disease biomarkers and phenotypes to inform breeding strategies for subclinical diseases and increased disease resistance
Understanding variation in vaccine responsiveness, immuno-competence at different developmental stages and disease outcomes
Determining the effects of selection for production traits on immune function

Members

Cobb
Genus
Centre for Dairy Information
Merial
Moredun Scientific
MSD Animal Health
Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation
Aviagen
Pfizer Animal Health
BPEX
EBLEX
Dairy Co

Steering Group and Management

Professor Quintin McKellar (Chair) - University of Hertfordshire
Professor Alan Archibald - The Roslin Institute
Mr Derek Armstrong - BPEX
Dr Bryan Charleston - The Pirbright Institute, formerly the Institute for Animal Health
Professor Eileen Devaney - University of Glasgow
Professor Willie Donachie - Moredun Scientific
Professor Laura Green - The University of Warwick
Professor Tom Humphrey - University of Liverpool
Dr Theo Kanellos - Pfizer Animal Health
Mr Ray Keatinge - Dairy Co
Professor Jamie Leigh - The University of Nottingham
Mr Kim Matthews - EBLEX
Dr Alan Mileham - Genus
Professor Randolph Richards - University of Stirling
Dr Ian Tarpey - MSD Animal Health

Contact

Faith Smith, Animal Health Research Club
faith.smith@bbsrc.ac.uk
tel: 01793 442802