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IAH awarded £38 million for research
IAH at Pirbright
Institute of Animal Health part of strategic research programme

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has awarded £38 million to the Institute of Animal Health as part of a strategic research programme. The investment will enable the IAH to carry on as a world-leading centre for research into viral disease of livestock and viral zoonoses.

The funding is in addition to the £250 million that the BBSRC and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have invested in the redevelopment of the IAH's laboratories at Pirbright, Surrey.

The funds have been awarded through grants to distinct strategic programmes to support research over five years. At the IAH, three strategic programmes are underway - in the fields of avian viral diseases, livestock viral diseases and vector born viral disease.

John Fazakerley, director of the IAH, said: "We are delighted with this endorsement from BBSRC. We are proud of the work that we do and are committed to delivering the science strategy of the UK through excellent research. We share with BBSRC a commitment to using bioscience research to underpin future global food security as well as improvements in the wellbeing of humans and animals."

David Willetts, the minister for universities and science, commented: "This £250 million investment from BBSRC for the first phase of major five-year research programmes will sustain excellent science at some of the UK's leading institutes and universities. This will drive growth, support highly skilled jobs and keep the UK at the very forefront of bioscience, with benefits ranging from healthcare to energy and global food security." 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.