The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:
1. Pathology is a centrally important discipline for the practice of medicine, whether human or veterinary. An understanding of pathology allows an appropriately deep understanding of the processes underlying disease in any animal that presents to the clinic, and thus forms the bedrock of any attempt to diagnose and treat ill animals. It is central to research to understand disease mechanisms and to establish causation, and thereby develop diagnostics, and strategies for prevention and therapy.
2. The pathology section is a key component of the Department of Veterinary Medicine. It is split into two sub-disciplines: clinical pathology and anatomical diagnostic pathology. The section delivers the majority of its teaching to the clinical veterinary course with some input into pre-clinical teaching. In order to generate sufficient case material for clinical teaching and research, the section also provides diagnostic pathology services to the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, and undertakes external diagnostic work to generate income to support posts within the Department. The pathology section as a whole is an excellent resource for supporting various research projects in the Department, ranging from histopathology support for infectious disease and neuroscience research, through to clinical pathology support for clinical research projects. The pathology discipline is also a major area for primary research in many fields that are pertinent to the Department of Veterinary Medicine.
3. In order to organize and manage this large and complex activity, and to provide academic leadership in this important research discipline, it is the view of the Department that leadership at the highest professorial level is required. This is also in accordance with the departmental strategy of having a Professor leading each of the main sections of the Department. In the view of the Department, building the pathology section further, and bringing together the two sub-disciplines of clinical pathology and anatomical diagnostic pathology, will only be achievable with a new professorial appointment.
4. The Department of Veterinary Medicine has accordingly proposed the establishment of a Professorship of Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology. The Professor would be expected to provide leadership to the pathology section, with a view to strengthening and consolidating its diagnostic and clinical pathology activities, building a team performing primary research in the pathology discipline in an area pertinent to the Department's mission, and increasing the support that the section gave to other research activity in the Department. The Professor would also be required to ensure that pathology service activities continued to be run in a business-like way, and were developed to meet the future needs of the Department, and would have a direct responsibility for the integration and smooth running of all parts of the pathology section's work. This proposal has been endorsed by the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine and the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences.
5. In order to meet the costs of the Professorship, the Department of Veterinary Medicine has proposed that the University Lectureship vacated by Dr T. Scase, on 31 July 2008, and a vacant technician post, be suppressed. The Council of the School of Biological Sciences have confirmed that the full costs can be met from within the existing level of resources. The General Board have accepted the Department's proposal for the establishment of the Professorship on this basis. They have accordingly agreed that, if the recommendations of this Report are approved, they will suppress the aforementioned University Lectureship.
6. The Board are satisfied that an appointment at this level will be likely to attract a strong field of applicants. They are assured that suitable accommodation is available in the Department of Veterinary Medicine for the Professor and the Department have undertaken to provide any other support and facilities necessary. The Board have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine that election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors and that candidature should be open to all persons whose work falls within the title of the Professorship.
7. The General Board recommend:
That a Professorship of Diagnostic Veterinary Pathology be established in the University from 1 May 2009, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Veterinary Medicine.
| 12 November 2008 | ALISON RICHARD, Vice-Chancellor | W. BORTRICK | RICHARD HUNTER |
| NICK BAMPOS | WILLIAM BROWN | D. W. B. MACDONALD | |
| GRAEME BARKER | PHILIP FORD | J. RALLISON | |
| JOHN BELL | RICHARD FRIEND | PATRICK SISSONS | |
| TOM BLUNDELL |