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HRH The Princess Royal supports new research into equine grass sickness
HRH The Princess Royal took part in a special podcast in the On Farm series to launch the new research Fellowship.

Moredun Foundation and Equine Grass Sickness Research Fund join forces on research Fellowship.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has helped to launch a new research drive which aims to investigate the often fatal disease equine grass sickness.

The cause of equine grass sickness (EGS) still remains unclear and there are currently no treatments or vaccines to prevent the disease. Around 80 per cent of horses that contract EGS do not survive.

The Moredun Foundation (TMF) and The Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF) are working together on an innovative three-year research Fellowship into EGS which will pool knowledge from both horse owners and researchers to help tackle the disease.

HRH The Princess Royal said: “I think that for Moredun to launch a Research Fellowship as part of its centenary and to choose to do so on equine grass sickness is pretty significant given their history, background and success in so many areas with livestock and diseases and I am delighted to launch this new Fellowship for equine grass sickness at Moredun.”

The new research Fellow will be based at the Moredun Research Institute, leading the development of a new database and sample biobank to support future research.

Horse owners are being encouraged to take part in the project by becoming 'EGS detectives'. Reporting cases of the disease and submitting samples for the biobank as well as helping to raise awareness of EGS in their area.

Anne Logan, chair of the Equine Grass Sickness Fund said,:“It is a very exciting time for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund and we are delighted to be working with Moredun to take a fresh look at the disease through the work of the new Fellow and to develop a new database and biobank of samples as a valuable research resource going forward.”

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.