Dr Luke O’Grady, formerly a Senior Research Fellow at University of Nottingham’s (UoN’s) School of Veterinary Medicine, is now Assistant Professor at University College Dublin. Luke was previously involved with the design and support of Ireland’s national BVD control programme , including modelling of BVD to evaluate future control programme design.
Dr Sam Beechener is a social scientist with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). He has an applied agri-food background in industry and consultancy, and particular interest in interdisciplinary research. Recent work with direct read-across to this proposal includes a snap-shot of the BVD Eradication Scheme in Dumfries and Galloway on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Dr Marnie Brennan is project lead. She is Director of the Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine and Assistant Professor in Epidemiology at the UoN School of Veterinary Medicine. She has expertise in evidence synthesis and interpretation, as well as extensive experience of a range of social science research, using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches.
Dr Edna Can is a Research Fellow at the UoN School of Veterinary Medicine. She is lead simulation modelling researcher for the £2.2m REMEDY (REal tiME DairY), project, which aims to provide novel data-driven solutions for dairy farmers towards resource use efficiency and net zero emissions. Edna is responsible for herd and environmental modelling within the project.
Dr Andrew Duncan is a Lecturer and Researcher in Mathematics at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness. He works in collaboration with SRUC on data analysis and modelling disease spread, with a particular focus on movement networks. In the BVD Platform, Andrew is analysing the spread of BVD so that patterns can be identified.
Dr Jude Eze is Reader in Statistical Epidemiology in the Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health (CEPH) at SRUC, applying statistical methods and machine learning techniques in epidemiology, health and environmental sciences. He is particularly interested in the modelling of disease risks and change in disease risks over space and time.
Dr Amy Jackson is a part-time post-doctoral researcher on this project with UoN. Amy specialises in farm industry communications, and is particularly interested in perception of farming among the UK public, and what stimulates farmers to change practices and attitudes. She is working with Marnie and Sam on social factors in BVD control.
Dr Toby Landeryou is a Teaching Associate in Veterinary And Animal Science at the Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health (CEPH) in Inverness. Toby is an epidemiologist with a data driven background. His work includes supporting the investigating and modelling of tick-borne pathogens within the British Isles.
Dr Kate Lewis is a Research Fellow at University of Nottingham. Kate has a background in Veterinary Epidemiology and data analytics, and applying different methods and models to animal health and welfare problems. She works in the simulation modelling team on the BVD project.
Dr Naomi Prosser has been working as a Research Fellow in UoN’s Ruminant Population Health group since 2019. She brings to the programme her expertise gained during recent research into BVD in England, and familiarity with the BVDfree England test database as well as social science engagement with stakeholders.
We have secured the support and assistance of the major programmes in BVD control across the devolved nations within the UK: in England, BVDFree and the Animal Health & Welfare Pathway BVD group; in Wales, Gwaredu BVD; in Northern Ireland, Animal Health & Welfare Northern Ireland; and in Scotland, the Scottish BVD eradication scheme. Each is helping provide access to their test databases, and in identifying and engaging with key stakeholders. In addition, the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) will assist the project via the coordination of stakeholders and knowledge exchange activities throughout the project.