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Join Richard Dunwoody on our China Challenge! | Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS) | Cancer Reseach | HM the Queen visits Animal Health Trust | AHT 2010 online calendar launched! | News Archive
Join Richard Dunwoody on our China Challenge!
Richard Dunwoody will head up the AHT’s exciting China Challenge; a 12-day trip to walk part of the Great Wall of China and visit the Moon Bear project in Chengdu.
We are looking for 20 people to join Richard on this exciting challenge to help raise funds for the AHT through sponsorship. If you would like to join Richard there is a £300 registration fee to secure your place with a minimum amount of £2700 to be raised in sponsorship (total £3000 which you can pay outright if you wish to be self-funding).
Participants in the Challenge will fly to Beijing before setting off to a more remote section of the wall for five days of hiking and staying overnight in campsites or guest houses. They will then return to Beijing for a visit to the Forbidden City before boarding a flight to Chengdu in central China, where they will visit the Panda Sanctuary. The following day is a full day visit to the Moon Bear project where they will meet up with Claudia Harley (AHT Senior Clinician in Veterinary Ophthalmology), Jill Robinson (Founder and CEO of Animals Asia) and Heather Bacon (Senior Vet on the Moon Bar project) for a back-of-house tour, and see the bears undergo health checks. Finish the day with drinks and snacks as the sun goes down and see the bears settle down for the night.
This is a unique opportunity to see at first hand some of the work the AHT does on our projects abroad. The gentle Moon Bears are imprisoned in tiny cages for many years on bear farms, where their bile is extracted for use in Chinese traditional medicines. After years of captivity many of these animals go blind so that even when they are rescued and re-homed in a sanctuary they cannot enjoy their new life to the full. Claudia and her team from the AHT, with the help of our supporters, are able to restore the sight of these sadly abused creatures using specialized equipment to perform cataract surgery.
Richard Dunwoody was a three-time champion National Hunt jockey, known primarily for his winning partnership with the legendary grey Desert Orchid but also, since his retirement from racing, for his tremendous support for charities. He has completed a trek to the South Pole and walked 1000 miles in 1000 hours to raise money for Sparks, Spinal Research and Racing Welfare. Now he is undertaking a trip to China to help the Animal Health Trust raise funds to improve the lives of animals like the Moon Bears. If you would like to help him do this, join him on this exciting trip.
Please click here for a full itinerary
Contact Christine Gird or Polly Moore in the Fundraising department (tel 01638 555648) for further details.
Scientists at the AHT save foals from fatal condition
Scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and The University of Liverpool have identified the mutation responsible for Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), a condition which is fatal to all affected foals.
A DNA test to identify carriers of the mutation is now available from the AHT.
FIS, more commonly known as Fell Pony Syndrome, affects not only Fell ponies but also Dales ponies. It causes foals to become anaemic and fall prey to opportunistic infections. Sadly, any foal born with the syndrome will not survive.
The team led by the AHT’s Dr June Swinburne and Laura Fox-Clipsham, in collaboration with Professor Stuart Carter of the University of Liverpool, believe the discovery will prevent unnecessary suffering by preventing the birth of foals affected with this dreadful condition.
Dr. Swinburne, said: “After ten years of research, this is an exciting and important discovery for breeders of Fell and Dales Ponies across the world. By identifying the mutation and developing a DNA test, breeders will be able to make informed decisions about which ponies to breed. This should prevent unnecessary suffering and, in time, eradicate this awful condition.”
Professor Carter, said: “The University of Liverpool’s investment in the latest genomic technologies has made this breakthrough possible. On a personal level, it is so gratifying that after years of working with distraught breeders and owners, that we can now see our way to a future in which no more sick foals are produced. We can also ensure that this dreadful problem does not spread to other horse breeds.”
The research has only been possible thanks to funding from The Horse Trust and the support of the Fell Pony Society and the Dales Pony Society who have supplied DNA samples.
The Horse Trust's Chief Executive Brigadier Paul Jepson, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to support this exciting project. It was evident from the start that this project would bring significant benefits for equine health and welfare, ultimately leading to the prevention and elimination of a fatal disease.”
Laura Fox-Clipsham, a PhD student whose work has led to the breakthrough and development of the proposed test, added: “We would urge any breeders of Fell or Dales Ponies to utilise the test once it is available. All they will need to do is send the AHT a sample of hair from the ponies for analysis. The information they will gain in return will arm them with the facts to avoid breeding foals with this devastating illness.”
For more information on the FIS DNA test, click here: http://www.aht.org.uk/genetics_fis.html
AHT ISSUES PLEA FOR HELP WITH CANCER RESEARCH
We are appealing to UK canine veterinary surgeries to help us improve the way dogs are treated for a number of cancers.
We are mailing information posters to more than 3,000 surgeries asking for samples to be taken from certain breeds of dog diagnosed with certain types of cancer.
Using the samples, our Oncology Research Group aims to develop prognostic tests for a number of canine cancers. These tests will assist veterinary professionals in predicting how individual tumours will behave and respond to treatment. It means that each dog will be offered the best treatment for its individual case, ensuring that dogs which do not require aggressive therapy are spared the rigours and possible side effects associated with such a treatment.
The samples required are surplus small pieces of the biopsies of suspected tumours, which are collected by vets for diagnostic histopathology. Cheek swabs, or blood samples, that are surplus to those that are often collected by vets for standard clinical investigations are also required. Samples will be submitted for research only with the written consent of each dog owner.
Mike Starkey, from the AHT’s Oncology Research Group, said: “To make progress we need to collect many samples of many different tumours. We simply need vets to send us freshly frozen (not fixed in formalin) biopsies of suspected tumours.”
Samples are required from 13 breeds (if they are suffering a specific type of cancer -note 1): Boxer, Bullmastiff, Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Labrador, Poodle (toy, miniature and standard), Rottweiler, Schnauzer (miniature, standard and giant), Scottish Terrier and Weimaraner.
If you would like further information about the project, please contact Mike Starkey on 01638 555603 or email mike.starkey@aht.org.uk
For more information on the work of the AHT’s Oncology Research Group, click here: http://www.aht.org.uk/science_oncology.html
HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL OPENS EDUCATIONAL FACILTY AT AHT
Our brand new state-of-the-art lecture theatre and conference centre has been opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
The facility within the John MacDougall Visitors Centre has been purpose-built to enhance our education programme for vets, scientists and people involved with our work.
Mark Vaudin, Assistant Chief Executive of the AHT, said: “Education is key at the AHT. Until now we have never had the facilities to properly provide a fully integrated education programme.
“This new lecture theatre allows us not only to enhance the education programme for our own staff but also gives the opportunity to provide training and education for vets and scientists working both here in the UK and across the world.”
The facility houses a 60-seat, tiered lecture theatre equipped with a wall-mounted flat screen and an easy to use audio-visual system, sympathetically built within a converted stable block, overlooking woodland and paddocks.
The visitors centre also features break-out areas for smaller groups, a coffee shop and a large courtyard giving access to an orchard and places to walk.
The AHT has a long history of offering educational programmes. Each year we host more than 20 continuous professional development lectures and practical sessions for veterinary professionals. We also run genetics courses for dog breeders.
HRH The Princess Royal, President of the AHT, said: “This lecture theatre is an exciting opportunity for the AHT. It is a first class educational facility and its development is ideally timed to make the most of the technology available enabling the AHT to offer dynamic and interesting educational experiences. It will no doubt have long term benefit, not only for raising the profile of the AHT, but also in enhancing the educational experiences of vets and scientists working in the wider profession.”
The lecture theatre and conference facility is available to businesses and individuals to hire. Anyone interested in booking the venue or arranging a tour can telephone 01638 555648 or email conference.manager@aht.org.uk
Or click here for more information: http://www.aht.org.uk/lecturetheatre.html
HM The Queen visits Animal Health Trust
Celebrating 50 years as our patron, Her Majesty The Queen, spent the afternoon with us on 
Thursday 29 October.
During her visit Her Majesty The Queen was updated on our plans to expand our very successful Small Animal Centre by creating a new state-of-the-art Cancer Centre. This facility will enable our cancer experts to treat many more horses, dogs and cats suffering from the disease.
The Centre will offer all three treatment options for cancer - surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy - on one site. It will mean that regardless of the diagnosis, we will be able to offer each and every patient the very best options for their specific case.
Dr Peter Webbon, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust, said: “It was fantastic to be able to update Her Majesty The Queen with our plans for the Cancer Centre. To build and fully equip the centre we need to raise £4.5 million. Knowing that Her Majesty The Queen is supportive of our plans should hopefully help us reach this target.”
During her visit, Her Majesty The Queen talked to members of our research team receiving progress reports on our work to develop new diagnostic tests and a vaccine to combat strangles, a virulent horse infection.
She also met our geneticists, to learn about their work developing new DNA tests to identify carrier dogs that carry specific inherited diseases, and also the scientists currently working on the Suffolk horse genetics project.
Dr Webbon, added: “We hope Her Majesty was impressed with the progress we have made in the 50 years since she became our patron. It was great to have the opportunity to update her on several of our areas of work which are so obviously of great interest to her.”
AHT 2010 online calendar launched!
The AHT has been working with company Wantamedia, an online media company, to produce an Animal Health Trust e-calendar for 2010 and it’s available to buy now!
The calendar stars several members of our staff doing their day jobs and each month features a short paragraph about our work.
The calendars cost £6 each and for every calendar sold we receive £1.50.
We hope you’ll love the calendar as much as we do. It’s an easy and fun way to support the work of the AHT – the more 
calendars sold, the more money we’ll get! They make great Christmas presents too!
When you purchase you’ll be able to download the calendar immediately. You can also get a copy sent on CD through the post.
For more information, or to buy yours, visit: http://www.wantacalendar.com/charities/ecalendars_animal_health_trust.asp