Initiative to Address Microbiological Diseases in Swine and Poultry

Eleven research projects are to be funded by BBSRC through the Newton Fund's UK-China-Philippines-Thailand Swine and Poultry Research Initiative to address microbiological diseases. Asia accounts for more than one-third of the world’s chicken meat production and is the leading pork producing region in the world. Diseases of livestock, such as foot and mouth, avian influenza and campylobacter result in huge economic losses. To reduce the economic and human health impact of these diseases, and to increase food security, research is required to develop rapid diagnostics, novel therapeutics and vaccines.

The 11 collaborative projects being funded will involve leading UK bioscience researchers and teams in China, the Philippines and Thailand. Host pathogen interactions, microbiology, epidemiology and disease management and control, are issues that will be addressed as part of the research.

A total of £7 million has been awarded by BBSRC to support UK research organisations. Research in partner countries has been funded by The National Natural Science Foundation of China; The Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Programme, Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture and the Thailand National Science and Technology Development Agency.

BBSRC Deputy Chief Executive, Steve Visscher, said: “With poultry and pig meat leading the global increase in meat production, the importance of finding innovative solutions which will underpin sustainable, safe, healthy and resilient poultry and pig production systems is critical. By bringing together world class researchers from China, the Philippines, Thailand and the UK, BBSRC is addressing this challenge.”

Participating UK institutes include: Brunel University, Cardiff University, St Georges University London, University of Leicester,, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London, University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh and The Pirbright Institute.