Scottish, Indian scientists to team for better animal health

Scottish scientists will join their Indian counterparts at an international conference in Bangalore this week to look at ways to improve animal health and combat diseases threatening wildlife.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies will be joining their colleagues from the Roslin Institute, whose research led to the creation of the famous Dolly the sheep in 1996.
Roslin Institute is a part of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine of the University.
The five-day conference 'Advances in Veterinary Research: Impact and Opportunities' opens on February 19 and includes a public lecture on the subject of genetically-engineered livestock, a statement from the university said.

Other topics for discussion at the event include -- the use of genetic engineering to combat infectious diseases; finding new ways to tackle India's growing problem of rabid dogs; and examining treatments for other zoonotic diseases which affect both humans and animals.
Professor Natalie Waran, Head of the University's International Animal Health, Welfare and Conservation Medicine Unit, is one of the eleven experts from Edinburgh travelling to Bangalore.

The improvement of animal health and, by association, human health in India is a pressing concern, especially with the numbers of domestic and livestock animals set to rise significantly in the coming years, Waran said.

My colleagues and I want to learn from India's experience and use our expertise to help tackle a diverse range of animal diseases and welfare issues as well as to consider the many opportunities for improvement.
University of Edinburgh Principal, Professor Timothy O'Shea, will also attend the conference.
The conference is a collaborative event between the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Commonwealth Veterinary Association; Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar; and the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore.
Edinburgh recently ranked as one of the world's top 20 universities has an established reputation for expertise in veterinary research and teaching.

The University has a long-standing relationship with India, with its first Indian student having graduated in 1876.