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National Academy of Sciences Study Calls for Federal Funding of Veterinary Workforce and Research

Posted on: Monday, 18 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In a report released today at the national convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Science reported that a review of the organizations most likely to fund veterinary research, especially the federal government, reveals that they do not do so, leaving the United States vulnerable to zoonotic diseases (those that spread from animals to humans) and bioterrorism attacks on the nation's food supply and farm- animal economy.

The report, funded in part by the AVMA and entitled Critical Needs for Research in Veterinary Science, underscores the critical role veterinary science plays in the health and well-being of all animals, including humans. However, the report continues, there is a lack of veterinarians and scientists engaged in veterinary research, and a shortage of facilities and funding to conduct research.

The report notes that the last major federal program to support construction of veterinary medical colleges ended nearly 40 years ago. In addition to funding workforce development and research facilities, the report recommends that special attention be paid to collectively developed databases, animal health monitoring and surveillance systems, specimen collections, and other shared research tools to support veterinary research.

In a related report issued simultaneously (Animal Health at the Crossroads: Preventing, Detecting, and Diagnosing Animal Diseases), the NRC found that, in general, the U.S. animal health framework has been "slow to take advantage of state-of-the-art technologies" to protect public health, that better diagnostic tests for identifying all animal diseases should be made a priority and that a coordinating mechanism be established to enhance partnerships among local, state and federal agencies and the private sector to address these issues.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has been a leading supporter of the Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act (H.R. 2206/ S. 914) which would, if passed by Congress, increase the number of veterinarians involved in public health, environmental health, food safety, food security, regulatory medicine and biomedical research, and provide monies for the construction and/or expansion of veterinary medicine colleges.

Copies of both reports are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 or http://www.nap.edu/.

Founded in 1863, the AVMA is one of the world's largest veterinary medical associations, representing over 72,000 members in a wide variety of professional areas. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit http://www.avma.org/ to learn more about veterinary medicine and to access up-to-date information on AVMA issues, policies and activities.

American Veterinary Medical Association

CONTACT: Sharon Granskog, Director, Media Relations, of the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association, +1-847-285-6619 or cell, +1-847-280-1273

Web site: http://www.avma.org/http://www.nap.edu/

Source: PRNewswire

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