Research Podcasts – Veterinary Science on the Move

In our second recording on the subject of Swine Flu, Prof Colin Howard describes the nature of the influenza virus, how new strains arise so frequently and how we can ameliorate the impact of new strains through vaccination and antiviral therapy (recorded 10 September 2009).

The latest influenza strain, Swine Flu, has been making headlines around the world in 2009. Professor Katharina Staerk explains the nature of the pandemic and the threat it poses (recorded 01 September 2009).

Endothelial cells line all the blood vessels in our bodies and disease processes culminating in heart attack and stroke start with problems in these cells. Prof Caroline Wheeler-Jones explains her work examining the importance of particular enzymes and signalling pathways in the function of endothelial cells, and how these go wrong or may be protective against cardiovascular diseases.

Maximising milk yield without sacrificing fertility is a key objective of research in the dairy industry. Here, Dr Geoff Pollott describes his methods for analysing herd productivity and discusses the implications of his findings for future cattle breeding strategies.

In this podcast Professor Quintin McKellar, the Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, gives his perspective on the current and projected future changes taking place in veterinary education and in the profession as a whole and their potential impact in a variety of spheres of interest.

Epilepsy is a common condition in dogs and cats and is distressing for pet and owner alike. In this podcast, Dr Holger Volk describes the best treatments currently available for epilepsy and also gives an insight into some promising new alternatives.

Intensive care has long been an important facility in human hospitals. In our latest podcast, Karen Humm describes how facilities and knowledge in this area are also now being developed for our animal patients.

In our latest podcast, Veterinary Radiologist Chris Lamb describes the application of MRI and CT scanning to veterinary practice. In particular he relates the results of two of his studies which emphasise the cost-benefit analysis of their use versus more traditional diagnostic modalities.

In this podcast, Dr Richard Piercy explains the pathology, diagnosis and management of exertional rhabdomyolysis, a common and debilitating muscular disease of working horses.

In this podcast, Adrian Boswood of the RVC’s Small Animal Cardiac referral service reviews mitral valve disease, the commonest cause of heart failure in small breed dogs, and describes the latest advances in methods of diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

Professor Peter Chantler describes the protein structures that make up the skeleton of living cells and how they ingeniously combine to provide the means for movement of structures at the cellular and sub-cellular level.

In our latest podcast, Dr Kim Whittlestone and Jeff Bullock describe the role of the Lifelong Independent Veterinary Education (LIVE) Centre at the RVC and their VetConnect project - a high tech means of improving case-based clinical learning experiences for students and vets.

We’re constantly told that too much fat in our diet is bad for the health of ourselves and our animals. However it now seems that very particular types of fats are implicated in determining not only animal health but their reproductive performance. Here Dr Robert Abayasekara and Prof Claire Wathes of the Department Of Veterinary Basic Sciences at the RVC explain their work demonstrating the...

In the latest RVC podcast, Professor Dirk Werling describes the importance of the Innate Immune System in combating infection by micro-organisms and the tactics that some of these bugs use to evade these defences, with particular reference to his work on immune cell receptors in cattle. </itunes:summary>

Dr John Hutchinson describes his high tech approaches to investigating the mechanics of how animals move, in particular how elephants walk and run, and how this relates to their unique anatomy.

Mitochondria are cell organelles which play a critical role in energy supply in most higher organisms. But how did that role develop and how do they achieve this function? In the latest episode of the RVC Podcast Dr Michelangelo Campanella discusses these questions and relates his research findings on how poor mitochondrial function can contribute greatly to disease processes.

Syringomyelia is a serious inherited disease which affects the nervous system of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in particular. In her 2nd foray into podcasting, Dr Kate Chandler explains what to look for and what to do about it if you suspect you have a case.

Fits in your four-legged friend can be a very distressing presentation for owner and vet alike. But when is this epilepsy and what can be done about it? Dr Kate Chandler of the RVC’s Small Animal Neurology referral service reveals her insights and suggests how diagnosis and treatment of this condition are improving.

I'm sure everyone has stopped to admire the impressive sight of a stag during the rut. But what is the biology underlying the phenomenon of annual antler growth and shedding? Professor Jo Price explains and describes her research into the mechanisms of this unusual example of mammalian tissue regeneration.

So why is it necessary to get your horse vaccinated? In this podcast Professors Josh Slater and Ken Smith discuss the features and diagnosis of the common disease syndromes caused by Equine Herpesvirus infection and how ongoing research is yielding valuable information about means of preventing them.

Itching is a real nuisance both for animals and humans. No matter whether your dog is affected, if you see 'itchy' dogs every day in the clinics or are merely interested in the topic, this podcast interview with Dr Anke Hendricks, Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology at the RVC, will provide you with a wealth of information on atopic dermatitis, one of the most common causes of itchy skin. [Apologie...

Everyone is aware that crows feet, aching joints and forgetfulness are the signs of aging. And not even our animal friends are safe from the grey hairs of old age. But if you have not heard about immunosenesence before, then you should listen to this podcast, where Dr Donald Palmer explains the processes and importance of aging in the immune system.

Have you heard about Chronic Enteropathies before, but don't quite know what they do and how they may be treated? In this week's RVC podcast, Dr Karin Allensbach talks to us about the latest clinical approaches to Chronic Enteropathies and about a new drug which may help to treat this condition in dogs and is currently under investigation in clinical trials at the Queen Mother Hospital.

In the last of our series of podcasts on bluetongue we will be talking to Katharina Staerk, Professor for Veterinary Public Health at the Royal Veterinary College, about the importance of midges in the transmission of bluetongue and how novel surveillance strategies in the future may help to prevent the spread of the disease.

Did the last RVC podcast trigger your interest in Bluetongue disease? Then listen to the new episode, where Prof Joe Brownlie explains why we are still waiting for a vaccine to protect lifestock from serotype 8.