News and Updates
News and Updates
Welcome to our News and Updates; here, you'll find exclusive blogs, webinars, videos and more! You'll be able to understand what life at the RVC is really like, see the exciting research being conducted, and get a feel for our community.
Hello Everyone,
Congratulations on receiving an offer to study here at the RVC!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our brand-new Offer Holder Area. Here, we hope to make you feel part of the RVC community and confident that it is the right choice for you ahead of hopefully welcoming you to our campus in September.
In this Offer Holder Area, you’ll find all the information you need to help you transition to university, as well as exclusive webinars, blogs and videos. We will take care of you like our own between now and September, so ensure to regularly check back!
Best wishes,
The RVC Team
Illuminating the RVC’s research this World Health Day
This Sunday, WHO (the World Health Organisation) celebrates World Health Day with the theme 'My health, my right' to champion everyone's right to have access to clean water, air, and housing, to be free from discrimination, and to have decent working and environmental conditions. At the RVC, we wanted to celebrate our research contributions to achieving WHO's aims.
To achieve WHO's goals, collaborations from various scientific and non-scientific disciplines are essential; thus, the RVC has developed a multidisciplinary master's degree, 'One Health', which seeks to facilitate these alliances—promoting a holistic 'whole society' treatment of health hazards, recognising the intersections between agriculture, ecology, microbiology to name a few.
As part of WHO's campaign, they draw attention to the bleak statistic that every 5 seconds, someone unfortunately dies due to air pollution, demonstrating an immense health threat. While many of us are aware of the rising levels of air pollution, particularly in cities, the true extent of the health consequences remains unknown.
While existing research demonstrates that air pollution is hazardous, with ample evidence of it causing respiratory, neurological, and cardiovascular issues, the RVC has discovered one, perhaps unexpected, health implication. Led by Rebecca Morris, this research found that air pollution experienced during pregnancy can result in adverse neurological developmental issues for the unborn child. Although previous studies have demonstrated that particulates in air pollution cause oxidative stress and neuroinflammation at a cellular level, it remains unclear what the exact mechanism triggers the impaired brain development, thus illuminating an area that requires more investigation.
As over 90% of the population routinely experiences air pollution exceeding WHO's recommendations, it is evident that more needs to be done to curb harmful emissions and provide adequate health care to those struggling as a repercussion. Morris's research is just one example of the many exciting research projects in One Health happening at the RVC. We hope to welcome you to join us to help continue our riveting, world-renowned research and make a tangible impact on the world! 
Celebrating World Wildlife Day at the RVC!
This week we celebrated World Wildlife Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of wildlife and the urgent need for its conservation. Here at the RVC, wildlife is not just a part of our curriculum; it's at the heart of all we do. As one of the most specialised universities dedicated to veterinary medicine, nursing, and biological sciences, we are deeply passionate about wildlife conservation.
Our commitment to wildlife conservation is no better displayed than through our cutting-edge research, aimed at understanding the intricacies of the natural world and developing innovative solutions to protect wildlife populations. Some of the impressive research includes:
Investigating the Outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants among Critically Endangered Mongolian Antelope
During this project, researchers investigated mass mortality events in Mongolian antelopes, which they concluded was due to abnormal weather patterns enabling the rapid spread of the highly contagious and deadly virus Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), which they believe spread from livestock to the nomadic antelope populations. The findings of this research were valuable in mapping the spread of the virus, ensuring that proper removal of carcases occurred and collecting clinical data that can be used in further research to achieve global eradication of the PPRV.
Developing Field Approaches to Identifying Tuberculosis in Badger Populations
The RVC has been researching the methods of tuberculosis (TB) transmission in UK badgers; our world-renowned research initiatives contribute to a deeper understanding of wildlife health and ecology. Researchers identified prevalent issues with inaccuracies and difficulties in TB testing; thus, they endeavoured to devise novel ways to mitigate impact, such as combining multiple testing methods, utilising methodical approaches that better account for imperfect observations and nucleotide sequencing so new strains can be determined and investigated. By gaining insights into complex interactions within ecosystems and the threats facing wildlife populations, we are better equipped to develop targeted conservation strategies that can make a tangible difference in preserving global biodiversity.
RVC research study into the epidemiology of tuberculosis in wild badgers
Considering Human included Threats to the Welfare of Southern Resident Killer Whales and Implications for Policy
Moreover, the RVC’s dedication to wildlife conservation extends to our efforts to improve animal welfare amidst disruptive human activity, which researchers at the RVC have argued has often been overlooked. In one research project led by RVC researchers, a functional tool was developed to assess the impact of human activity on sea mammals, which in turn could be used to inform policy and give a tangible way to understand how wildlife welfare is being impacted at an individual level. By advocating for the humane treatment of wildlife, the RVC is working towards a future where a compassionate, welfare-inclusive approach to conservation is the norm.
As we celebrate World Wildlife Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to protecting the precious biodiversity of our planet. Together, through education, research, and advocacy, we can positively impact the future of wildlife and ensure that future generations inherit a world teeming with natural wonders. As many of you join us in September, we hope you’ll share our passion, concern, and dedication to wildlife and become a part of the positive legacy of the RVC.
If you’d like to know more about our current research, check out our research area: Research at the RVC. 
Webinars
Were you unable to attend our exclusive webinars live? Worry not; you can catch up on the webinars below