Pictured: Dr Duncan Lascelles.

Kennel Club Charitable Trust celebrates recipients. 

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has announced the winners of the tenth International Canine Health Awards.

Created to celebrate and support scientific innovation in improving canine health and welfare, they are one of the largest veterinary awards worldwide.

This year, five financial grants have been awarded; the International Award, with a prize of £40,000; the Lifetime Achievement Award with a prize of £10,000; the Postgraduate Student Inspiration Award with a £10,000 prize; the Undergraduate Student Inspiration award for £5,000 and The Kennel Club's Breed Health Coordinator Prize, awarding £5,000.

Dr Duncan Lascelles received the International Achievement Award for his dedication to canine medical care. With over 25 years of research into pain recognitions, control and management, he has improved the quality of life for many dogs. 

Allowing dogs to have happier and more comfortable lives, Dr Lascelles has been described by colleagues as a gifted veterinary surgeon, mentor and researcher.

Commenting on his incredible achievement, Dr Lascelles said: “I was really taken aback when I heard I was the recipient of this award and absolutely delighted that the importance of pain recognition and management has been recognised by such a prestigious organisation, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, through this incredible award. It is wonderful to have my lifetime passion acknowledged in this way.

“The research we have been doing has been a collaborative team effort, and always focused on actually making a difference to clinical practice, and I plan to continue the work we do! 

“This generous award, made possible by the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation, will allow us to kick start some highly innovative and impactful work that will lead us toward breed-specific and individualised pain management. Stay tuned!”

Recognised for her dedication to researching and treating canine bladder cancers, Dr Deborah Knapp has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Purdue University specialist in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of dogs with invasive urinary bladder cancer, Dr Knapp has hugely improved early detection and intervention of canine bladder cancers with her groundbreaking findings. 

These findings have also been used in human medicine, improving the outlook for human patients in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Dr Knapp said: “Wow! This is an incredible honour. I am extremely humbled and grateful to The Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

“It is extra special to receive the award from the organisation that has been committed to improving the health and well-being of dogs for almost 150 years. Thank you!”

Qualified veterinary nurse and master by research postgraduate student, Michelle Farrow, has been awarded the Postgraduate Student Inspiration Award for her current research, which involves a novel interactive survey to aid veterinary understanding of dog owners' decision-making.

Michelle commented on the award: “I am humbled and honoured to be the first Veterinary Nurse to win the International Canine Health Awards Post-graduate Student Inspiration Award. 

“My clinical experience as a Veterinary Nurse has really enhanced and informed my current research work, which is why I believe that veterinary nurses can be a real asset to research, bringing new and challenging perspectives.”

The winner of the Undergraduate Student Inspiration Award is Sierra Latshaw, who has been conducting epidemiological research at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

Sierra explained her award-winning research: “My undergraduate VetCompass research aims to promote greater veterinary understanding of testicular cancer to better manage cases and educate owners. 

“I believe that evidence-based medicine is the future of veterinary medicine, and this award also acknowledges the critical role of VetCompass in promoting greater global understanding of primary veterinary care for dogs.”

Dr Laura Hamilton has been awarded the Breed Health Coordinator Prize, having taken on the role of Breed Health Coordinator for French bulldogs in 2020, alongside her full-time role as clinical director of her practice, and practising veterinary surgeon.

Discussing her success, Dr Hamilton said: “I am truly honoured and thankful to The Kennel Club Charitable Trust on being selected as the winner of this award, and to those who nominated me for this prestigious award.

“I am looking forward to continuing our work using the generous prize to further research key issues in the French Bulldog, such as spinal issues, and BOAS.

“We plan to make health testing more accessible by providing owners funded health testing with the French Bulldog Club of England health scheme and the University of Cambridge/Kennel Club Respiratory Function Grading Scheme. 

“We also plan to fund spinal radiographs to evaluate and monitor these dogs and further research spinal conditions in the breed.”

Images (C) The Kennel Club