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Patient-based research

Undertaking research to generate key, primary evidence that can be used be used by veterinary surgeons, animal owners, researchers and the animal health industry to achieve optimal outcomes for veterinary patients.

We perform high-quality and innovative research that generates important primary evidence that can be used by veterinary surgeons and animal owners when making informed decisions about veterinary care.

Researchers based within the School of Veterinary Science’s veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and practices work in conjunction with other researchers within and outwith the University and collaborate with multiple veterinary professionals nationally and internationally, including corporate and independent veterinary and other industrial partners.  
 
Our research covers a range of clinical disciplines and research areas addressing important clinical challenges in a variety of animal species.

We conduct observational studies, investigating different diseases in a range of veterinary patients helping to identify animals at high risk of disease, ways in which disease may be prevented, or predicting the likely outcome of veterinary treatment.

We also run clinical trials and other interventional studies on our veterinary patients including horses, companion and farm animals to determine the best treatment options in order to achieve optimal outcomes for veterinary patients and their owners.

All our research is conducted to the highest possible welfare standards and with informed owner consent. Our research projects all undergo ethical review by the University’s Veterinary Ethics Research Committee prior to being approved.  

Our research

  • Oncology

    Using clinical observation, data science and molecular biology to investigate differences in drug tolerance in dogs and cats, identify factors that influence these different effects and develop strategies that allow precise, individualised treatment of various types of cancer.

  • Gastroenterology

    Performing epidemiological studies including to identify risk factors for colic in horses including ways to prevent or diagnose different types of colic and predict likely treatment outcomes. This includes interventional studies to determine optimal ways to prevent surgical site infection following laparotomy or treatment of postoperative reflux following small intestinal surgery.

  • Musculoskeletal disease

    Multiple research groups work to better understand, diagnose and treat lameness and other orthopaedic diseases in livestock, companion animals and horses. Utilising artificial intelligence, host-pathogen-microbiome interactions, metabolomics, proteomics and interventional studies to improve animal health monitoring and welfare.

  • Our research investigates ways to prevent, predict or manage various endocrine diseases including equine metabolic syndrome, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and endocrine-related diseases such as equine laminitis.

  • Antimicrobial use

    Use of electronic health data and hospital and practice-based surveillance to benchmark antibiotic use, investigate patterns of antimicrobial resistance and improve understanding of antimicrobial use by veterinary surgeons, promoting responsible antimicrobial use.

  • Investigating ways to prevent and assist management of obesity in pets and horses. This includes social science approaches to investigate motivators and barriers to weight management in obese horses and practical information for horse owners and their veterinary surgeons.

  • Using electronic health data to rapidly identify disease threats in dogs, cats, horses and other species, improve disease prevention and treatment strategies. Promotion of clinical and research initiatives utilising biomedical text mining approaches via SAVSNET.

  • Surgical implant design

    Working with industrial partners to investigate the benefit of individualised 3D implants in the management of orthopaedic and neurological diseases including wobblers syndrome and load shifting osteotomies.

chemistry

Research groups

Equine Research Group

Companion Animal Research Group

Ruminant Research Group

The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET)

People and Animals and Their Health in Society (PATHS)

Case studies

CHARIOT clinical trial

International, clinical trial investigating the use of lidocaine on outcomes in horses undergoing colic to treat small intestinal conditions.

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Contact us

If you are interested in our research, including funding opportunities and collaboration, or if you are a veterinary professional or animal owner who is interested in participating in veterinary clinical trials and other research studies that we run, please contact vetsresearch@liverpool.ac.uk