VLA

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is an OIE, WHO and UN Food and Agriculture Organization reference laboratory for a number of diseases, including classical swine fever, Newcastle disease, Avian influenza, brucellosis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea, scrapie and BSE, salmonellosis, contagious equine metritis, equine viral arteritis, bovine tuberculosis, enzootic bovine leukosis and rabies. The Agency consists of a central laboratory complex at Weybridge, Surrey and thirteen regional laboratories in Britain. The Weybridge laboratory is a well-equipped facility with high-bio-security level L3+ and facilities for viral culture, molecular diagnosis and analysis and immunology. The Agency is primarily funded by the UK Government and has a long history in the field of pestivirus research and international collaboration, and has contributed significantly to molecular epidemiology and diagnosis.

The OIE Reference Expert at VLA Weybridge, Dr Trevor Drew, is a nominated Consultant to FAO in their Global Framework on Transboundary Animal Diseases programme on CSF. A study on feasibility of control of CSF in SE Asia is currently under consideration and may provide some synergy with this proposal. VLA also participated in the FAO/DLD Regional Laboratory training course on CSF, FMD, Rinderpest and PPR in Nov 2003.

The Epidemiology Department of VLA is recognized for its expertise in geographic information systems and has extensive developing country experience. The Risk Analysis group at VLA regularly contributes to national policy development at a national and international level. They can provide guidance of formulation of vital assessments to inform the development of control strategies and efficacy of protection measures.

Dr. Trevor Drew

PhD, MSc, MIBiol, CBiol
Leader of workpackage on global disease surveillance on CSF
Head of Virology and Statutory & Exotic Virus Programme Manager. MSc in applied immunology and PhD in molecular virology. OIE Reference Expert for CSF, EAV and BVD and Consultant to FAO in their Global Framework on Transboundary Animal Diseases programme on CSF. Previous participant on EU projects on PRRS, CSF and EAV. Current participant in EU Thematic Network on BVD.

Mr. Kumar Sivam

BVSc, CertCHP, MSc, MBA, MRCVS
Veterinarian with particular interest and expertise in epidemiology, disease control and organisational development, he has worked in clinical practice for many years before extending into epidemiology, working first in south-east Asia and then teaching in the UK before joining the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in 2001. At VLA he has moved from epidemiological work to departmental management and corporate strategy development. His work now spans a number of EU projects, teaching disease control and facilitating the development of the Agency.Head of Centre for Epidemiology and Risk Analysis. Extensive experience of disease surveillance and logistics of disease control.

Dr. Helen Crooke

PhD
Project Leader for CSF research at VLA. Studies of molecular basis of virulence, viral pathogenesis, virus-host interactions and CSF diversity. Molecular virologist with previous experience in development of novel vaccines.