Easter Bush Campus hosts Princess Royal’s visit

A Royal seal of approval has been given to the University of Edinburgh’s newly refurbished Farm Animal Practice.

HRH The Princess Royal visited the University’s Farm Animal Practice, which is part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The Princess Royal, who is the University’s Chancellor as well as Patron of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, met staff, students and clients of the practice and officially opened its revamped facilities on Thursday 17th January.

Her Royal Highness was greeted on arrival by the University’s Principal, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea and introduced to Professor David Argyle, Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

Professor Neil Sargison, Head of the Vet School’s Farm Animal Section, then gave The Princess Royal a tour of the Farm Animal Practice.

The practice’s updated facilities include a lecture room for students, a meeting room, new reception area, laboratory and pharmacy. Her Royal Highness then visited The Roslin Institute, which is incorporated into and next to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Easter Bush in Midlothian.

The Roslin Institute’s research focuses on improving the health and welfare of animals, which includes looking at how scientific findings can be applied to improve human and veterinary medicine, livestock practices and food security.

The Princess Royal spoke with researchers whose work includes studying the genetics of cattle, sheep and pigs. This includes looking at ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases which effect the farming industry.

We are delighted that the Princess Royal has visited the Easter Bush Campus to meet with staff and students from our Farm Animal Practice and discuss the latest developments in Farm Animal medicine, As Chancellor of the University, it is a great honour that the Princess Royal was able to perform the official opening of the farm animal practice.

It has been wonderful to show the Princess Royal round The Roslin Institute’s new state-of-the-art building and to show her how, together with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and other of our partners in the Easter Bush Research Consortium, we are world leaders in the field of animal bioscience.

Her Royal Highness was also shown the site for the National Avian Research Facility, currently under construction at the Easter Bush Campus. The site represents the latest stage of major developments at the campus, which recently received backing from the Scottish Government in the form of a £10 million capital investment.