Page 5 - act-annual-review-2022-2023
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A YEAR IN REVIEW
FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RVC ANIMAL CARE TRUST
It is only when your own body starts As a clinical scientist, I have felt particularly fulfilled Real progress is made by each generation of
to fail that you appreciate how much by the way in which we can investigate the whole veterinary clinicians and scientists passing on our
we take for granted about the way picture in many of our patients, from behaviour, knowledge to the next, like a baton in a relay race.
our brains co-ordinate our individual through a range of diagnostic imaging techniques This year we have welcomed your further support
movements and activities, and how to, in some cases, tissue sampling and analysis. for students, towards our widening participation
unconsciously we complete complex However, given the complexity of its structure, and initiatives, and towards students facing periods
manoeuvres. As a clinician, I have the essential nature of all brain tissue, sampling of hardship in these challenging times. The rest
watched young horses walking across of abnormal areas is not very practical. Therefore, of the ACT Team and I have been inspired by
their paddocks, wobbling precariously, with epilepsy, the RVC Animal Care Trust (ACT) their stories, and I hope that through our new
sometimes falling and struggling to has been able to support, with your help, important publications we are sharing these stories and their
stand, due to pressure on their spinal long-term research focussing on the clinical gratitude with all of you. Please contact us if you
cords. I have grieved with owners as abnormality itself, characterising the nature of feel there are any aspects of our work about which
their canine companions have slowly fits and response to therapy, including the way you would like to hear more.
lost strength on their hindlimbs, dietary modifications can significantly decrease the As Chair of the Management Committee, I am
eventually losing their ability to frequency of fits. grateful for our small team that has steered us
stand unaided, due to degenerating Diagnostic imaging is the way we look inside the with your generous support to a successful year
spinal nerves.
body. It clearly is central to our investigation of in 2023 and look forward to further important
So, it gives me great pleasure to thank all many diseases, once they become established, developments in veterinary diagnosis and
our friends for their generosity in supporting and essential for confirming and eliminating many treatment, and veterinary education, in 2024.
our companion animal brain bank, through brain abnormalities. It used to be said that painting
permission to harvest brain material from the Forth Bridge was a continual process. As soon
sadly dead companions, as well as funding to as you got to the end, you had to go back to the
support the processing. This will provide an other end and start again. I feel equipping our
established, fully clinically defined resource services with a full range of diagnostic imaging
for many projects, looking at microscopic systems is a similar endeavour. So, this year we
and molecular changes associated with have upgraded the CT scanner in the equine Professor Stephen May
the different conditions where the brain hospital and funded a new image intensifier in Chairman of the RVC Animal Care Trust
loses control. the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals.
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