This is the first in a new series which coincides with the launch of our revamped website – all part of an exciting year for the Trust as we celebrate our 30^th Anniversary.

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Sadly, on the welfare front, there are still many animals in need but, alongside this, there are uplifting stories of charities working with animals for our good and that of our communities.

On the scientific side, the Trust is probably the largest independent funder of clinical veterinary research and the projects we have funded have had immense impact. I should stress we only support clinical research which means that these studies only involve animals being treated for conditions. We have a strict non-invasive policy and I mean strict – for example we will not allow the taking of blood samples unless it is clinically necessary.

Human and veterinary studies have outcomes that can benefit each other

The work is important and increasingly as the science community breaks down its own boundaries a wider One Health community is developing where human and veterinary studies have outcomes that benefit each other.

One project we recently funded has used Artificial Intelligence to detect past episodes of Atrial Fibrillation in horses from ECG’s where the human eye is unable to detect a problem. This study has now extended with equal success to detecting in it humans.

We will be bringing you their stories as well as hopefully giving you a wider understanding of the issues and causes of some of the problems and the positive impact your contributions are making. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and watch this space!

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Author: David Simpson, Chairman of the Petplan Charitable Trust.