Page 10 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2025

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Diagnostic labs

DIAGNOSTIC LABS NEW LEADERSHIP

We spoke to Dr Libby Graham, expertise enough. I would like our veterinary will enable data at the laboratory level to
Diagnostic Laboratories Manager, who clients to know that our technical and feed into other cross-border initiatives, such
joined the RVC in June. veterinary staff are accessible and available as the European AMR Surveillance Network
to support them with their cases. in Veterinary Medicine (EARS-VET).
Please give a precis of your career. Libby Graham Since beginning my career, new
Following a brief period in companion animal opportunities have emerged for both
practice, I returned to university to pursue a veterinary surgeons and scientists to obtain
long-held interest in veterinary immunology specialist postgraduate qualifications in
and infectious disease. My PhD on the host veterinary microbiology. Ten years ago,
immune response to feline leukaemia virus, I collaborated closely with colleagues
at Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine, across Europe to establish a new specialist
was followed by a postdoctoral project in college, the European College of Veterinary
bovine immunology and tuberculosis at the Microbiology (ECVM), to train and certify
Institute for Animal Health. veterinary graduates in microbiology.
I spent the next 10 years in Glasgow, Today, the College has 44 residents in
where I was involved in the diagnostic training centres across Europe. The Royal
service, undergraduate teaching and clinical College of Pathologists has also established
research, before relocating with my family What key changes have you observed in a training programme and qualification for
to New Zealand. There, I joined a contract the field since you began your career? both veterinary surgeons and scientists in
research group, Cognosco, where we In recent years, I have witnessed a long- veterinary microbiology (FRCPath).
undertook field trials and research projects overdue focus on the veterinary clinical
in bovine mastitis and infertility. One of microbiology laboratory. This has been What attracted you to the RVC and what
our most interesting projects involved driven by the emerging threat of antimicrobial does your role entail?
implementing a national bulk milk tank resistance (AMR) and an acknowledgement This role at the RVC was an excellent
antimicrobial susceptibility testing service. of the critical role that laboratories can opportunity to build upon the currently
I returned to the UK in 2018 as the play in supporting effective antimicrobial successful diagnostic laboratory service,
Director of an expanding private veterinary stewardship at the patient level, as well as in particularly considering my strategic and
diagnostic laboratory service (now Medivet providing data for national and international operational experience in the private sector.
Labs) before moving to Antech Diagnostics. AMR surveillance. These surveillance I was also keen to return to an academic
I was part of the operational team that networks provide information critical to environment, with the possibility of
managed their first expansion into Europe, the development of treatment guidelines, collaborating on clinical research projects
in 2022. I joined the RVC in June 2025. antimicrobial stewardship programmes, and in infectious disease. Additionally, with
public health interventions. my interest and specialist knowledge
What made you decide to specialise in The veterinary clinical microbiology in veterinary microbiology, I anticipated
veterinary microbiology? laboratory, however, has faced several opportunities to enhance the current
As an undergraduate, I found microbiology challenges in meeting these responsibilities, diagnostic service in infectious disease by
particularly fascinating. Microorganisms including a lack of standardised exploring innovations in testing.
constantly evolve and adapt to their methodologies, a shortage of veterinary- I am involved in the day-to-day operational
environment, and the advancement of specific clinical breakpoints, and a lack of management of the RVC Diagnostic
new technologies continually challenges subject-specific expertise. It is encouraging Laboratories. My focus, in line with our
our understanding and knowledge. The to know, however, that recent developments overall clinical strategy, is to introduce
innovative technologies and the potential for in the UK and across Europe have begun to and embed the most efficient and quality-
ongoing discovery make this an exciting and address these issues. focused practices that I have experienced
inspiring subject. A timely initiative in the UK led by Dr throughout my career. I also need to stay
Fergus Allerton has facilitated closer alert to opportunities to be at the forefront of
How has your experience as a vet helped collaboration between veterinary clinical new technologies.
you to help clients? microbiology laboratories through ongoing I am keen that our laboratory adopts a
My experience in veterinary practice has and well-supported CPD meetings. This collaborative approach to supporting both
helped me focus on the patient. In the initiative has progressed to the formation basic and clinical research endeavours,
diagnostic laboratory, we work with data of a new society, Veterinary Laboratory to the benefit of animal welfare. I am also
and specimens, so it helps to visualise the Antimicrobial Diagnostics (VLAD). committed to supporting the development
patient and their concerned owners. When A new project surveying antimicrobial and growth of our laboratory team
we experience near-miss or deviation resistance in companion animal specimens within a healthy and supportive working
events in the laboratory, we always consider submitted to UK diagnostic laboratories was environment.
and record the potential impact on the launched this year. Led by Professor Dorina
patient. Timofte and funded by the Veterinary
As a new graduate, I didn’t fully appreciate Medicines Directorate, the project also aims For the Diagnostic Pathology Service,
please call:01707 666 208
the depth of resources available in our to standardise methods for bacterial culture, Email:
diagnostic laboratories and didn't use their resistance, and susceptibility testing. This diagnosticlabs@rvc.ac.uk

10 Autumn 2025