Introduction to the VTRI

The Veterinary Training and Research Initiative (VTRI) is a government-sponsored scheme for veterinary graduates and undergraduates.

It supports a major programme of research on strategically important diseases of ruminants. The project brings together leading international experts in immunology, microbiology, parasitology and genomics, with the specific aim of understanding the molecular basis of diseases of livestock.

The scheme offers training for veterinary graduates and undergraduates considering a career in research (and in related branches of the profession) and provides undergraduates both first hand experience of research and an appreciation of how research findings can lead to practical benefits.

This £5.52 million VTRI project, based at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, is led by Professor Ivan Morrison and is funded by funded by DEFRA and SFC.

Training under the VTRI scheme is offered to UK veterinary graduates and undergraduates from any organisation or School and will provide cutting-edge experience in research into infectious disease, bioinformatics and communication skills. Areas include major new collaborative state-of-the-art research programmes on bovine tuberculosis (TB), ovine nematodiasis, or finally bovine Escherichia coli transmission and infection.

Partners in the collaboration are all internationally renowned teams, that are world leaders in the field based at: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (Edinburgh), University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Roslin Institute, Moredun Research Institute, the Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Laboratory Agency (Weybridge) and the Institute of Animal Health Compton laboratory.