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Poultry specialist wins 2024 Plowright Prize
Prof Tomley is internationally renowned for her studies into the Eimeria pathogen.
Fiona Tomley specialises in the reduction of infectious disease.

Fiona Tomley, a microbiologist and poultry health specialist, has been awarded this year’s Plowright Prize, in recognition of her work reducing infectious diseases.

Prof Tomley’s career, spanning four decades, has seen her work contribute to research across the field. This has included basic scientific discovery, technological advances, industrial collaboration, international research leadership and knowledge exchange.

Her research has also supported the understanding and control of viral and parasitic pathogens in poultry, and she has become internationally renowned for her studies into the Eimeria species which causes coccidiosis in chickens.

Prof Tomley currently works as director of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) One Health Poultry Hub, where she leads research projects on a global scale. Through this she has encouraged cross-sector collaboration, to consider how to achieve sustainable intensification of chicken meat and egg production without threatening human and animal health.

She is also a professor of experimental parasitology at the Royal Veterinary College.

Prof Tomley said: “It is a huge honour to receive the Plowright Prize and I am delighted that my work, and that of my colleagues and collaborators, has been recognised by the judging panel.”

As part of the Plowright Prize, Dr Tomley has been awarded £100,000 prize money. She will use this to establish a global mentoring network for veterinary infectious disease researchers, with a focus on the One Health approach.

Prof Tomley added: ““Researchers at the beginning of their careers are under extreme amounts of pressure, particularly when they move into leadership roles. This is especially tough for women, those in resource-poor settings, or those without access to support.

“I hope to help the next generation of researchers by providing mentorship opportunities to those in the UK and in low-and-middle income countries where many pathogens that pose a threat to animal and public health are endemic.”

The Plowright Prize is awarded by RCVS Knowledge annually, in honour of the veterinary scientist Walter Plowright – whose work led to the complete eradication of rinderpest.

Katie Mantell, chief executive officer at RCVS Knowledge, said: “The judging panel, comprising representatives from leading organisations working in animal health and infectious diseases, were hugely impressed by the extent, global reach, and impact of Professor Tomley’s work.

“I am delighted that the Prize is being awarded to an individual so deserving of the accolade and with exciting plans for using the funds to support future generations of research leaders.”

Image © RCVS Knowledge

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FIVP Practice Matters podcast returns for Series 2

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced that its podcast, FIVP Practice Matters, will be returning for a second series next year.

The bi-weekly podcast will return on Tuesday, 14 January 2025 with an episode on sustainability with Alison Lambert. The second series will include a range of new and familiar guests sharing veterinary initiatives and news from independent practices.

The podcast is available on Spotify and will now also be released on Apple Podcasts. More details about FIVP and the podcast can be found on its website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Further cases of H5N1 confirmed in Norfolk

APHA has officially confirmed that two more cases of H5N1 have been found on premises in Norfolk.

Testing confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was present at premises near Attleborough, as well as premises near Hingham in South Norfolk. The case near Hingham follows a slaughter on suspicion which was declared on 23 December.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been implemented at each premises, and all the poultry on each premises will be humanely culled.

A third case has also been identified near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

APHA is reminding bird keepers to remain vigilant and follow biosecurity measures to prevent more outbreaks. Details on the current disease control zones and biosecurity guidance can be found on the APHA website.