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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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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.