The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been jointly recognized as an OIE Collaborating Center in Risk Analysis & Modelling. The designation took place in Paris between May 26-31 at the 87th General Session of the World Assembly of National Delegates of the OIE, the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
OIE Collaborating Centers are centers of expertise in a specific designated sphere of competence relating to the management of general questions on animal health issues. Building on the global network of over 55 centers covering 49 topics, the new RVC and APHA Collaborating Center will support the management of animal health issues internationally by providing expertise in Risk Analysis and Modelling for a fixed five-year term in the first instance.
As part of this, RVC and APHA will provide expert support and services to the OIE and the implementation of its policies, as well as developing various methods, procedures and studies in collaboration with other centers, laboratories and organisations. The Center will utilize expertise from RVC’s Veterinary Epidemiology Economics and Public Health (VEEPH) group, as well as APHA’s Department of Epidemiological Sciences (DES) and elsewhere within the agency.
The nomination as a collaborating center is a recognition of the ability, capacity and readiness of RVC and APHA to provide services, their scientific and technical expertise at both national and international levels, conformity with OIE and international standards, as well as technical and geographical relevance of their activities to OIE’s program priorities.
Head of the Collaborating Center and Principal of the RVC, Professor Stuart Reid CBE, said:
“The RVC is delighted to contribute globally to the safeguarding of both animal and public health in collaboration with OIE. This is a hugely important international collaborative effort and one of which we are proud to be part.”
Prof. Jonathan Elliott, Vice-Principal Research at the RVC, said:
“We are honored and excited that RVC has been selected for the Collaborating Center for Risk Analysis & Modelling and are very privileged to be supporting such an important issue alongside an esteemed network of institutions.”
Dr Kath Webster, Director of Scientific Services at the APHA, said:
“APHA has a long history of working with the OIE to promote animal and public health. We are delighted to be working with the RVC and fostering scientific collaborations internationally in this important area.”
Dr Emma Snary, Head of Epidemiological Sciences at the APHA, said:
“We are very pleased that the expertise in risk analysis and modelling at APHA and RVC has been recognized by the OIE, and look forward to working with OIE members to protect the health of animals worldwide”
