PROFESSORIAL LECTURE ‘Specialisation in Generalisation: Veterinary Research in a Highland Location’

Event Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008

Location

The Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Invernesss, IV2 3JH

Professor Bill McKelvey, Chief Executive and Principal of SAC, was preside at this Inaugural Professorial Lecture which was given by George Gunn, Professor of Population Medicine and Zoonoses.

George Gunn
George Gunn, Head of Epidemiology at SAC, was awarded a Professorship of SAC in recognition of his work linking field disease surveillance to epidemiological research and the assessment of the costs and benefits of disease control.  These activities underpinned the evolution of the HI Health Programme and the Premium Cattle Health Scheme that are now landmarks, not only in Scotland but also in the UK and wider afield, for the development of farm animal health schemes based on an understanding of the economic benefits of disease control. 

George’s work with his economics’ colleagues has led the way in understanding the costs of endemic diseases and the practical rationale for their control. 

He has broadened the scope of SAC’s epidemiology research programme enormously, helped implement the bench marking of disease for the UK pig industry and influenced thinking about animal disease control policies in Scotland, the UK and Europe. 

The success that he had in effecting practical implementation of health schemes has been expanded into a flourishing research group that is influencing thinking about animal disease epidemiology and disease control nationally and internationally. 

George Gunn received his professorship at SAC’s graduation ceremony on Friday 6 July 2007

Notes:

• George Gunn is a graduate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Glasgow University.  He began his career as a Veterinary Surgeon in practice in both Oxfordshire and Dorset before joining the Veterinary Division of SAC as a Veterinary Investigation Officer in 1984. 
• In 1993 he spent a year at the University of Guelph, Canada from where he graduated with a Masters Degree in Analytical Epidemiology studying the population dynamics of infectious diseases.
• He returned to SAC in 1994 and established himself at the heart of a programme of work to link field disease surveillance to epidemiological research and the assessment of the costs and benefits of disease control.