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Bristol University's School of Veterinary Sciences, a global leader in feline medicine, was the first UK centre to develop and commercially offer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative (q) PCR assays to detect a range of feline infectious and genetic diseases. Since 2008 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of qPCR tests performed, with over 35,000 tests carried out between 2008 and 2013. The results of genetic testing have informed breeding programmes and resulted in a reduced prevalence of genetic disorders such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The results of testing for infectious diseases have informed diagnosis and treatment modalities and, together with the genetic testing, have contributed to significant improvements in feline health and welfare. This work has also generated commercial income in excess of £1.7M, which has been used to further research into feline infectious and genetic diseases.
Amphibian population declines are recognised as one of the largest biodiversity crises in modern history. Professor Andrew Cunningham, Institute of Zoology (IOZ) headed the team that identified a novel chytrid fungus as the major cause of amphibian population declines and species extinctions. Our work is the basis for the scientific and conservation responses to this disease, and led to the fungus being listed by the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). We have established national surveillance programmes for the pathogen across the EU and elsewhere, identifying species at risk and developing mitigating measures to prevent pathogen introduction and species extinction.
Irish, UK and European policy and legislation intended to mitigate the ecological damage and economic costs of invasive alien species (IAS) has been influenced by our inter-governmental Invasive Species Ireland project. Legislation was enacted through the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985 (as amended) and the EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2010. Our assessments on the `Killer Shrimp' Dikerogammarus villosus contributed to the EU strategy on IAS. Our Controlling Invasive Riparian Species project removed invasive plants from over 600 km of riverbank in Ireland and Scotland, restoring native biodiversity, and is cited as a best practice case study in the IAS Strategy for Northern Ireland.
The University of Leeds has a long-established reputation for research into the identification of stamps used by potters on terra sigillata (`samian ware'), a key dating indicator for archaeological excavations on sites in the western Roman empire.
Publication of the illustrated index of these names in nine volumes, complemented by the ongoing release of the data to an online database, has made this research more accessible.
The index has given archaeologists — primarily community and commercial archaeologists beyond academia — a powerful resource for identifying samian pottery and dating the strata where it is found. It has also provided a valuable tool for museums' educational work.
Our biomarker research and underpinning technologies have commercially impacted upon the global R&D strategies of Unilever, Philips and Mars, realising new market areas for them, resulting in several million GBP invested in related R&D as well as "claim support" for products both in development and already available on shelves. Unilever have adopted biomarker outcomes as endpoints in clinical trials of new products, and Philips and Mars are developing with us saliva-based near-patient diagnostic tests for the human and small animal markets. We have also spun out two SME's: A) Oral Health Innovations (OHI) Ltd has developed online risk and disease analysis software for oral conditions, which was piloted, adopted and launched by Denplan, the UKs largest dental capitation plan operator (accessing 6500 dentists and 1.8 million patients), at the 2013 annual British Dental Association conference; and B) GFC Diagnostics makes SmokeScreen™ a non-invasive, sensitive and objective saliva test developed from our biomarker research at Birmingham University. Both technologies have already provided demonstrable social and commercial impact and given their uptake to date, will also deliver economic, environmental and health impacts.
The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire is a clinical and research tool, which has fundamentally shifted dermatology from being doctor-centred to patient-centred. Previously, no standard method to quantify the impact of skin disease on patients existed. The DLQI was created by interviewing people with skin disease and made clinically useful through development and validation of score bands. NICE/SIGN require UK dermatologists to use the DLQI when assessing severe psoriasis and hand eczema. DLQI is used in national psoriasis guidelines in 14 countries, is available in 91 language translations, has been used in 678 clinical research studies and generated £881,236 in royalties to Cardiff University.
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is by far the leading cause of blindness in older people in the developed world, affecting 30% of those aged over 65, and is set to increase. The naturally-occurring carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are located in the central retina (macula) and are collectively called the macular pigment (MP). High MP levels confer protection from AMD. Murray and colleagues have developed a new instrument, the Macular Pigment Screener (MPS), which allows regular, non-invasive monitoring of MP in ophthalmic practice. This means that, for the first time, the MPS can show the effect of intervention on the MP, providing a management strategy for AMD patients, and allowing early identification of those at risk of developing AMD. Over 750 instruments have been sold to date, with more than 1M patients in the US alone estimated to be benefiting from routine MP testing.
Mathematical modelling of squirrel populations published in 2003 by White (Maxwell Institute), Tompkins and Boots (Stirling) highlighted how squirrelpox virus transmitted by invasive grey squirrels to reds is a critical factor in the decline of UK red squirrels. As a consequence of this research the role of squirrelpox is now universally accepted. This has had an impact on policy and practice since 2006 with priority given to the control of grey squirrel numbers in order to prevent the spread of squirrelpox. The modelling framework developed at the Maxwell Institute was reported to the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrel steering group and has been used to design the conservation strategies currently applied throughout Scotland. The research has therefore had an impact on the environment, contributing to the mitigation of a problem that is estimated to cost £14M/year to the UK economy.
In July 2011, a fish disease simulator developed in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Liverpool was installed on computers at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), an executive agency of the UK government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Since this date, the simulator has significantly improved the capability available to Cefas for understanding the likely spread of infectious diseases in the aquaculture industry of England and Wales, and enabled the optimisation of methods for the prevention and control of outbreaks. Specifically, a user-friendly interface enables Cefas to focus on particular diseases of concern, understand their specific pattern of spread and optimise methods for their control. The simulator is currently being used to develop contingency planning for outbreaks.