Institute for Animal Health to focus on virology of poultry, livestock

The Institute for Animal Health (IAH) recently announced a new science strategy focusing its research on viruses affecting poultry and livestock.
The strategy aims at ensuring the institute has the skills and capabilities to work on viral diseases affecting all of the UK's economically important livestock species - cattle, poultry, sheep and pigs.
IAH will also accelerate the move of virus research at its Compton site to its Pirbright Laboratory. The government and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council recently announced £100 million of funding to redevelop the Pirbright Laboratory, to be completed in 2013.
"IAH cannot do everything. But what we can do is concentrate on the diseases that pose the biggest threat to the UK and the animals that are important to our farmers and consumers, while maintaining the flexibility to respond to new challenges," said professor Martin Shirley, IAH director.