Royal Veterinary College, University of London
The RVC is the oldest, largest and only independent veterinary school in the UK, and a constituent College of the University of London. It is one of the leading veterinary research centres in Europe, with its research rated as international standard (receiving the maximum 5 out of 5 in the last national Research Assessment Exercise). The research programme addresses both basic and clinical problems in the biosciences, with applications in veterinary and human medicine. Research activity spans cell and molecular science, whole animal physiology and population medicine.
The College has over 100 research-active staff who, together with their postgraduate students (PhD, Clinical Training Scholars), are organised into research theme groups around Musculoskeletal Biology; Reproduction, Genes and Development; Cardiovascular Inflammation Biology; and Infection and Immunity.
The College has built a strong epidemiology team with complementary research interests which is represented in each of the research groups and facilitates interactions between basic and clinical scientists. Animal welfare lies at the heart of much of the research and RVC has a team of scientists with a strong track record in this area, supported by a state-of-the-art controlled environment facility which enables study of the impact of environmental influences on animal welfare. The College also provides support for the veterinary profession through its three referral hospitals, diagnostic services and continuing professional development (CPD) courses.
RVC has extensive and diverse commercial relationships: It has a network of veterinary practices to whom the College provides a clinical referral service; a source of CPD training; and/or a partner for student placements. It also has relationships with companies in the animal health, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other healthcare sectors. RVC's academic researchers have an established track record in the development of technologies ultimately commercialised through these industries. The College runs both a Contract Research Unit to provide services to the bio-industry sector, and a Clinical Investigation Centre, to offer veterinary clinical trials for drug development - relevant to both animal health and human pharmaceutical companies.
The College operates at the heart of commercialisation of biotechnology and biomedical research, and owns and manages the London BioScience Innovation Centre, London's premier incubator for early stage life science companies.
LBIC is home to the College's own spin-outs, alongside over 20 other client companies. Businesses at LBIC range from start up companies from other London universities to developing companies and overseas businesses for whom the Centre provides a valuable London headquarters.
