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RVC receives funding grant for IMHA research
Dogs with IMHA present with pale pink mucous membranes.

IMHA is a serious and often fatal blood disease of dogs.

The Royal Veterinary College has received more than $99,000 of funding to advance research into immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA).

The grant from Allen and Barbara Dearry, through the Morris Animal Foundation, aims to support the study of mechanisms that cause IMHA using state-of-the-art single-cell RNA sequencing techniques. Furthermore, it will support the evaluation of various treatments with fewer side effects.

IMHA is a serious and often fatal blood disease of dogs that occurs when the immune system starts attacking its own red blood cells, eventually leading to their destruction. 

It is usually treated with medications that suppress the immune system and prevent the body from destroying its own red blood cells. However, these medications also cause serious side effects, such as panting, muscle wastage and lethargy, which can be distressing for dogs and their owners. 

The research, led by Dr Barbara Glanemann, associate professor in small animal medicine at the RVC, will use new technology to assess each blood cell collected from dogs with IMHA. The findings will enhance understanding of gene activation, and shed light on the underlying issues within the patient's immune system.

Researchers will compare the results to those from healthy dogs to learn how and why the immune attacks red blood cells and could find new therapeutic targets for drug development. 

Furthermore, the team will assess how cells from dogs with IMHA respond to common medications to create prediction models that vets can use to help decide which medication would be most appropriate. 

Dr Barbara Glanemann said: “We are excited to uncover new information on how IMHA develops in our dogs and are hoping to identify what therapy works best for individual dogs, which could have a major impact on the quality of life for dogs with this distressing disease.”

Dr Kelly Diehl, senior director of science ommunications at Morris Animal Foundation, added: "We’re very excited to fund these projects and we hope to make a significant difference in the understanding and treatment of this important but underfunded disease.”

Image (C) RVC.
 

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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...
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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.