Major research interests (output and impact of research)
Principal research projects and grant applications
- UNA Europa Chair Seed Funding (Grant n. SF2204 – October 2022): “The NEXTVET UNA Europa VPH Summer School 2023”. (€ 36,000, awarded): principal investigator. I acted as the Chair Holder. I brought relevant expertise to the project, and I had overall responsibility for definition of learning outcomes, learning content and activities, and delivering high-level practical classes at the Summer School. Main goals are: 1) to use an innovative food animal systems approach to consolidate veterinary students’ competencies in meat hygiene as preparation for their role in the profession. This aims to contribute to the prevention of foodborne hazards entering the food chain, posing a risk to public health. 2) to ignite interest in European veterinary students, who struggle to see the relevance of working as a veterinarian in public health, by adopting an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning in a One Health context. 3) guarantee a harmonised training in VPH and meat hygiene through our multidisciplinary, European team of experts to facilitate the mobility of veterinarians across European countries. https://www.una-europa.eu/stories/seed-fund-stories-from-the-una-europa-chairs-2023
- University of Bologna (Italy), June 2022: Grant “ALMA IDEA 2022 “Impiego della realtà virtuale nella formazione universitaria in sanità pubblica veterinaria” (€ 24,000 awarded): co-investigator. This grant will allow employing a young software developer (fixed term contact of 12 months) to update the VSS software and develop a Poultry VSS. My role is to be the overall project manager and lead the development of the new software.
- UNA Europa Seed Funding (Grant n. SF2011 – February 2021): “The Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulators”. (£ 12,000 awarded): principal investigator. I acted as project coordinator responsible for the definition and the delivery of the objectives of the project. The project aims are twofold: 1) To collect academic expert opinion on how to develop a new Bovine and Pig VSS and to lay the foundation for the development of a Poultry VSS as EAEVE requires veterinary students to gain practical experience in both red and white meat farm animal species. 2) To create a forum to support the development of the VSS concept and other educational tools in an evidence-based manner by setting up European-based educational research projects that will inform advances in Veterinary Public Health (VPH) pedagogy in Europe and internationally. By doing so, I will be able to create a solid scientific evidenced-based foundation that will attract funding from stakeholders within and outside the EU to finance the VSS further and other educational projects.
- The Scottish Government (Grant n. CR/2016/26 – July 2017): The risk of STEC (Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli) contamination in wild venison. (£ 183,285 awarded): principal investigator. My leading role was to participate to the preparation of the proposal, study design and ensure the deliveries of the project are met. Objective 1: A field survey to assess STEC prevalence in wild deer in Scotland: A study was performed on deer entering the human food chain to estimate the prevalence of STEC O157, and levels present in positive samples. A preliminary survey of non-O157 STEC was also conducted. Objective 2: A review of cross-contamination risks in the slaughter and processing stages of wild deer from the field to the larder: A systematic review of existing literature relating to cross-contamination of venison was conducted and a field study of contamination during production undertaken.
- The University of Edinburgh Innovation Initiative grants (Grant n. GR002962 - May 2017): Scaffolding E-learning tools in the BVM&S Curriculum: Evaluation of the use of the Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS) to enhance the ability to solve problem-based case-scenarios as part of veterinary students’ formal assessment (£ 3,000 awarded): principal investigator.
- The University of Ghent (Belgium) (Grant GHENTUNI - December 2014): Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Pig Slaughterhouse (€ 24,500 awarded): principal investigator. This grant will allow employing a young software developer (fixed term contact of 18 months) to update the VSS software and develop a Poultry VSS. My role is to be the overall project manager and lead the development of the new software.
- The University of Edinburgh (April 2013): Staff Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme Masters by Research (£ 6,000, awarded): principal investigator. This grant application allowed me to complete my part-time MSc by Research at the University of Edinburgh.
- Food Standards Scotland (Grant n. FS10184 - February 2013): Epidemiological study of Campylobacter spp. colonisation of wild game pheasants processed in Approved Game Handling Establishments in Scotland and its relevance to public health Research Project (£ 9,000, awarded): principal investigator. My leading role was to prepare the project proposal, study design and ensure the deliveries of the project are met. This study’s aims were: 1) to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in wild game pheasants processed in AGHEs in Scotland. 2) To identify the main sequence types (ST) of Campylobacter spp. isolated from pheasants. 3) To determine if the ST of Campylobacter spp. from pheasants are the same as in broilers and humans and evaluate the impact on public health.
- Food Standards Agency (Grant n. MC1R010 - August 2012): Feasibility study relating to a review of wild game meat hygiene controls and the potential for use of Plant Inspection Assistants in Approved Game Handling Establishments Research Project (£ 3,724, awarded): co-investigator. My role was to act as an independent assessor of the training provided to Plant Inspection Assistants in Approved Game Handling Establishments.
- The Principal Teaching Award Scheme 2011: The Virtual Slaughterhouse Research Project (£ 1,500, awarded - December 2011): principal investigator. This grant will allow for the design and delivery of the VSS research project at the R(D)SVS. The goals of this research project were twofold: to evaluate students’ opinions on the use of the computer-based Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS), and to validate the VSS as a teaching tool for veterinary students.
- The Moray Endowment Fund 2011: The Virtual Slaughterhouse Research Project (£ 1,500, awarded - December 2011): principal investigator. This grant will allow employing a young software developer to create the demo version of the VSS software. My role is to be the overall project manager and lead the development of the new software.
- Quality Meat Scotland “Tender for the Development of a Virtual Beef and Lamb Tool”. July 2020 (£ 13,500 – not awarded): principal investigator. This grant allowed employing a young software developer (fixed term contact of 3 months) to develop the software. My role was to be the overall project manager and lead the development of the new software.
Information on research led learning and teaching
- To assess the educational validity of the Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS) that I have developed at the R(D)SVS, I have led a research project on the evaluation of the use of the VSS to enhance the ability to solve problem-based case-scenarios as part of veterinary students (results published on the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education and one more publication in preparation). Hence, the outcome of the RCVS consultation on EMS was a strong emphasis on the vital role of supervised abattoir visits for the practical aspect of undergraduate learning in UK veterinary schools. The recommendations provided by the consultation did not, however, solve issues related to the lack of easy access to abattoirs and thereby expose students to authentic case-based scenarios to enhance their reflective skills and critical thinking. To resolve these important educational questions, I needed to find an easily accessible tool whereby students could experience case-based scenarios and practise their decision-making and solutions in a safe learning environment. From searching the relevant literature, the use of virtual simulation seemed the ideal way to address these problems, and this led to my development of the Bovine Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (BVSS). This innovative, visually based learning resource is intended to support traditional lectures and practical classes that can be used to stimulate interactive problem-solving activities embedded in the relevant context. In 2011, I successfully applied for a research grant to evaluate students’ opinions on the use of the VSSs and to validate the BVSS as a teaching tool for veterinary students. I published the results of the project in 2014 with the aim of influencing policy and practice in other international institutions. Consequently, in 2015, in conjunction with Professor Kurt Houf at Ghent University, a Pig VSS was developed with a research grant from Ghent (Belgium). The results of this project were presented at: the Teaching Innovation Conference, The University of Ghent (Belgium), June 2017; the online lecture "Impulsfrühstück" series: University of Vienna (Austria), 7th June 2022; the 61st National Conference on Food Safety and Consumer Protection of the German Veterinary Medical Society, Garmsisch-Partenkirchen (Germany), September 2021; the XXXIII Congress of Veterinary Pathology Spanish Society. University of Santiago Compostela - Lugo (Spain), June 2022. In 2019, the University of Nottingham and Liverpool introduced the VSS in their core curriculum as a temporary measure to replace abattoir visits that were suspended during the pandemic. With Dr Amelia Garcia-Ara from the University of Nottingham, we have led a research project looking at evaluating student-learning experience using the VSS in three UK Vet Schools (Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Nottingham). I act as Dr Garcia Ara supervisor on this project as she is also one of my European College of VPH residents. The results showed that, the VSS was a successful teaching and learning resource for the veterinary students. Although anxiety levels for visiting a real abattoir decreased for half of the students, we advise that face-to-face visits continue in the undergraduate curriculum for this matter. Nevertheless, when the VSS is the only available option, this can successfully provide an adequate learning experience. The results of the study encourage further investment to improve this technology for the benefit of the veterinary workforce in any country. The results of this project were presented at the VetEd Conference at the University of Nottingham in July 2022 and published on the Veterinary Record in August 2023 (Garcia-Ara, et al, 2023).
- To instigate the modernization of Veterinary Public health education in UK and Europe, I led a wide European research project on the evaluation of a harmonized undergraduate catalog for veterinary public health and food hygiene pedagogy in Europe (results published on the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education). In 2012, together with Professor Kurt Houf (Belgium) and Professor Peggy Braun (Germany), we agreed to foster high quality teaching in VPH education at European level and we created the European Veterinary Food Safety Teachers group (EVFSTG). One of the objectives of the EVFSTG was to discuss the proposal from EAEVE for a modern and harmonized European VPH Curriculum for all undergraduate students. The EVFSTG published the first edition of a harmonized ‘European Catalogue for Teaching Food Hygiene’ in August 2018. My main contributions in developing the European Catalogue were to ensure that the content was fit for purpose according to the RCVS D1C requirements and I wrote the preface of the publication. At the following EVFSTG meetings, I instigated a debate on whether the content of the European Food Hygiene (EFH) catalogue would provide the competence required of veterinary graduates that will also meet employers’ expectations. If so, the catalogue could then be used by colleagues when planning future VPH teaching at European veterinary schools and to define learning outcomes of VPH courses. Importantly, the catalogue would also contribute to consistency in VPH activities conducted by veterinary graduates across Europe and facilitate mobility of veterinarians working in VPH. To answer this question in evidence informed manner, in 2017, I led a research project to evaluate the fitness for purpose of the EFH catalogue, by evaluating its alignment with current educational needs identified by academics teaching VPH and those actively working in VPH across Europe. A secondary aim was to collate field veterinarian suggestions to improve teaching of undergraduate students in VPH. A wide European consultation process was undertaken with relevant stakeholders where I designed and used questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the catalogue is acceptable and relevant to all stakeholders and needs minor changes to its content, however, the way that the information is conveyed needs more reflection and attention since it clearly emerged that a more practical approach to VPH L&T practices was a strong theme at international level. This was particularly relevant in supporting the delivery of high-quality teaching in view of the uncertainties associated with the departure of the UK from the European Union and the unforeseen changes to education resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this project were presented at the Veterinary Public Health Association Conference (Keynote speaker: The Andrew Storrar Memorial Lecture) in Cambridge in September 2022 and at the VetEd Conference at the University of Surrey in July 2021.
- To investigate gaps and how e-learning tools can be better used post-pandemic I have led a wide European research project on a review of Innovative E-learning Tools (ELTs) in Veterinary Public Health and Meat Hygiene Education (publication in preparation). In March 2021, I created a consortium of five European veterinary schools (Edinburgh, Berlin, Bologna, Helsinki, and Madrid) and other 13 external partners, The initiative was founded by the UNA Europa Seed Funding call 2020 to promote and share innovation in Veterinary Public Health and Meat Hygiene (VPHMH). In the past 18 months we have been working on plans for the development of Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulators (bovine, swine, and poultry), and educational research project to review and identify gaps in ELTs used in VPHMH education. A preliminary literature review revealed that, in the past ten years, there were only two peer-reviewed articles published on the use of innovative ELTs in the VPHMH curriculum. Together with Prof Marcus Doherr (University of Berlin) and Prof Sarah Baillie, PFHEA (University of Bristol) I started a research project whose aims are: 1) to compile a list and undertake a review of existing ELTs for teaching VPHMH. 2) Collect VPHMH academic staff experience using ELTs. 3) Perform a gap analysis and make proposals to bridge these gaps. 4) Identify strategies to share such tools among institutions. I am the research project coordinator. Preliminary results show that, there is a positive attitude towards use of ELTs now and in the future in VPHMH education, and particularly the Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator. However, Some VPH D1Cs cannot be met by using ELTs alone. There is a strong and positive attitude on sharing educational resources among academia, government, and the industry, although the potential to do so seems limited, now. With this work, we are aiming at breaking down the barriers that do not allow sharing of educational resources among institutions. The results of this project were presented at the UNA Europa Workshop at the University of Bologna in March 2022 and at the VetEd Conference at the University of Nottingham in July 2022.
