UK-China CERAD is aiming to establish networking and discussion platform for researchers and stakeholders working on or having interests in avian disease between two collaborating countries, China and UK. Exploiting these collaborative research and networking opportunities, establishment of multi-disciplinary research portfolios globally to better understand the pathogenesis, economic losses, transmission biology and control stratgies of avian diseases in production animals.
Jointly established by The Pirbright Institute, UK and Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy, China, UK-China CERAD is a virtual centre for the state of the art research and training for UK and Chinese scientists and students through establishment of joint research projects, exchange visits for training and education on new technologies for disease control s well as organizing international conferences.
Major activities of the UK-China CERAD are summarised as below:
1. Generating epidemiological datasets on the incidence of avian diseases and the diversity of avian pathogens in China. The network of Chinese investigators with access to the poultry farms across the country will help to generate epidemiological datasets on the prevalence of avian diseases and diversity of avian pathogens in different geographical areas over different periods of time.
2. Research priorities of the major diseases as will be identified from the epidemiological data. The research focus will initially be on developing improved diagnostics and novel vaccine approaches using recombinant vaccine technology specifically incorporating antigens from pathogens circulating in China.
3. Collaborations between the scientists from the participating Institutes in the UK-China CERAD will be developed for submitting new research grant applications to secure additional funding in areas such as the use of novel adjuvants as well as to develop better correlates of immune responses to vaccines.
4. The Joint Centre will take active role in providing training for PhD students and young post-doctoral scientists in developing skills and expertise in advanced tools to equip them as the next generation of researchers in avian diseases. This will also include organising National/International Scientific Conferences in the two countries.
5. UK-China CERAD will also encourage the researchers in knowledge exchange and commercialisation, and funding generated from these activities will be used for sustaining the activities of the Centre in advancing avian disease research.