100 years of Newcastle disease research at APHA

The event marked the centenary of Newcastle disease research and explored the future of global disease surveillance, control and innovation.

On the 17 September, leading scientists, veterinarians and animal health specialists from around the world celebrated the centenary of Newcastle disease research and explored the future of global disease surveillance, control and innovation.

This hybrid event brought together internationally recognised experts from the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, Pakistan and the United States to reflect on a century of scientific progress against one of the most significant viral diseases affecting poultry worldwide.

For the past 100 years, Newcastle disease has remained a major challenge for the global poultry sector, causing significant economic losses and impacting food security, trade and livelihoods in many countries. The centenary event provided a unique opportunity to review how understanding of the disease has evolved since it was first identified and to discuss the latest research helping to protect poultry populations today.

The event at APHA Weybridge, hosted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Centre for Newcastle Disease, featured presentations from leading international researchers and disease specialists who shared perspectives on the history of the disease, its global impact and the ongoing efforts to strengthen surveillance and control programmes across the world.

We were pleased to welcome Professor Ian Brown (Pirbright Institute) back to give a historical perspective on the disease, having started his research career at APHA in this field over 30 years ago. With additional guest speakers from the US Department of Agriculture; the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore; the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Germany and the EU Reference Laboratory in Italy.