Livestock farmers and animal health officials in Wales are set to
benefit from regional disease testing following investment to
start the process of establishing a specialist diagnostic centre
at Aberystwyth University.
The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change
and Rural Affairs, has today announced £265,000 of Welsh
Government funding for Aberystwyth University.
The funding is the first step to designating the university as
Wales's first high throughput testing centre for notifiable
animal diseases, including bluetongue. The centre will operate
from the university's VetHub1 which provides secure
containment facilities. Currently, notifiable disease samples are
sent outside of Wales to process.
The Deputy First Minister, said: “I'm delighted to announce this
funding which will begin building more resilience in our animal
disease testing. The centre will strengthen long-term disease
surveillance capacity within Wales, reducing response times
during outbreaks and sharing surge outbreak capacity.
Recent experience of the bluetongue outbreak and avian
influenza has showed us that enhanced capacity is crucial as we
tackle future disease threats. This is a very positive beginning,
and I look forward to working with our colleagues at Aberystwyth
University.”
Aberystwyth University is the only facility in Wales with the
infrastructure and facilities to undertake this type of
testing.
Professor Iain Barber, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of
Sciences at Aberystwyth University, said: “We're excited to begin
this important scoping exercise, which marks the first step
toward strengthening Wales's capacity for rapid animal disease
testing. While this is an early stage in the process, it lays the
groundwork for a facility that could play a vital role in
protecting livestock and supporting biosecurity in the future.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, , said: “It is fantastic that
Aberystwyth University will be home to Wales's first high
throughput testing centre for animal diseases. This investment
recognises the university's outstanding expertise and facilities
in veterinary science, and I want to thank them for taking on
this important responsibility. This centre will support and work
closely with our farming communities, demonstrating how funding
our universities delivers real benefits for Wales.”
The designation process will enable the facility to deliver
testing accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service
and compliant with Specified Animal Pathogens Order standards.
The centre will create skilled jobs and strengthen Wales's
contribution to UK biosecurity.
