Kurt’s teaching and research encompasses veterinary public health. His interests lie in the long-term sustainable utilisation of animals and their products, and how a One Health approach can achieve this goal. His research focuses on antimicrobial usage as well as trade and food security, and how these can be affected by emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. 

His research focus is companion animal epidemiology and he co-leads the VetCompass Programme that collects de-identified clinical data from over 1800 veteinary practices across the UK. 

Javier conducts applied research on a range of topics across the animal and human health spectrum, mostly focusing on zoonotic diseases and food safety. His work combines epidemiological studies in livestock and human populations and analysis of animal and public health surveillance data. Javier is involved in research in the UK, India, Rwanda, Jordan, Peru and Bolivia

PhD: VetCompass eClinical Trials (VETs). Funded by Dogs Trust, this study aims to develop innovative statistical approaches to veterinary electronic patient records to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical interventions in dogs.

PhD: Re-Inventing Diagnosis and Management of Canine Hyperadrenocorticism. Funded by Dechra Veterinary Products, this project aims to evaluate the survival characteristics of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, to identify novel technology methods to apply to VetCompass-derived clinical data to aid the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism and to develop and validate novel tools to assist the monitoring of treatment for hyperadrenocorticism.  

PhD: Antimicrobial usage in farm animal veterinary practice in the UK: A mixed-methods approach. This study aims to estimate current AM usage in Farm Veterinary Practice and investigate the intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors associated with farm veterinarian decision-making when prescribing antimicrobials as well as exploring the drivers behind farmers' decision when using antimicrobials.

PhD: Hot Dogs – investigating the epidemiology of canine heatstroke presenting to UK primary care veterinary practices. Funded by Dogs Trust, this study aims to report the incidence and risk factors associated of canine heatstroke cases presenting to primary care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom, and to identify the predominant underlying cause of canine heatstroke in the United Kingdom (exertional versus environmental heatstroke).

PhD: Canine leptospirosis: Improving diagnostics and understanding of the epidemiology of disease in UK dogs. This project aims to improve the diagnostics of Leptospirosis in canids through novel bacterial outer membrane targets and to utilise VetCompass™ data to characterise aspects of the epidemiology of Leptospirosis disease and vaccine trends in dogs attending UK practices.

Evidence-based prioritisation of disorders within dog breeds. Funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and Agria Pet Insurance, this study aims to build on collaboration between the Kennel Club and the RVC to expand the evidence base for breed related conditions and identify breed health related priorities.

RVC Pandemic Puppies Survey. Funded by the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation, this study aims to investigate how, why and by whom puppies were purchased during the COVID pandemic in the UK and compare this with puppies purchased in 2019.

Dr. Tak's research interest lie in:

• Food systems and One Health economics
• Programme and policy evaluation of agricultural and food policies in LMICs
• Nutrition-sensitivity of food and agricultural policies 
• Production and consumption linkages in food systems 
• Role of atate and non-state actors in food systems delivery 
• Investigating the economic and social determinants of anti-microbial use in livestock production systems
• Political economy of food and agriculture

My research interests are in the area of developing novel diagnostics for mycobacterial infections primarily tuberculosis in people and cattle, as well as Johne’s disease. The technology I have developed uses bacteriophages to target mycobacteria, resulting in detection within hours compared to the several weeks it takes to culture. Using these methods I hope to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of mycobacterial infections, as well as providing an alternative tool for detection. I also have an interest in the role of badgers in the spread of TB – as part of a Defra funded project.  I am currently funded by a BloomsburySET (Research England) research fellowship.

Early-life determinants of performance and the Economics of Thoroughbred breeding

The project will use data from an ongoing Thoroughbred birth cohort study, to (i) describe the proportions of horses which enter training and race, including reasons and destinations of any who do not, (ii) evaluate the effects of early-life health and exercise on horses’ training and racing performance, (iii) calculate costs of production and evaluate stud farm profitability and (iv) assess the financial impact of early life disease and injury.

This will be the first time that the effects of early-life exposures on later-life milestones and race performance and the financial impact of early-life disease and injury, have been evaluated in UK Thoroughbreds. Findings will aid in ensuring the sustainability of the Thoroughbred breeding industry by informing management strategies to maximise athletic performance and industry retention, providing novel understanding of the financial viability of current practices, and informing farm-level economic decision making. 

Mary is currently working on a joint project between the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the RVC studying veterinary disease surveillance. The project has been designed to look at the motivations and barriers of farmers and veterinary surgeons to engagement with the UK scanning surveillance system. It aims to identify interventions that could be designed and implemented to improve engagement from these two groups of stakeholders.