The University of Glasgow has appointed prominent veterinarian Professor Stuart Reid, a specialist in epidemiology (the transmission and control of disease) in the fields of both human and veterinary medicine, as the new Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He will be based at the University's Garscube Estate in Bearsden, Glasgow.

Professor Reid is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and sits on the Scottish Science Advisory Committee, a body that provides advice to Scottish Executive Ministers on scientific issues, and was a member of the RSE enquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease.

Professor Reid, 40, a Glasgow graduate and himself the son of a Glasgow veterinary alumnus, relishes the challenges ahead. He said: 'It's enormously exciting to be leading the Faculty at a time when food safety, emerging diseases and animal welfare have never been more important to society. Scotland has an enviable reputation in agricultural excellence, quality foods, education and animal welfare. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is committed to all of these - training young vets, supporting our livestock industry, researching new diseases and providing clinical care to companion animals.'

The Faculty has recently launched a £10M fundraising campaign to build a state-of-the-art Small Animal Hospital that will serve the pets of Scotland and beyond. The new clinic will complement the £12M recently invested two major projects: the Institute of Comparative Medicine, a state of the art research centre, and the Weipers Centre for Equine Welfare, a hub of excellence for horse health. Of the UK's 6 Vet Schools Glasgow has the largest research income from Research Funding Council and Charities and, at the last Research Assessment Exercise returned the largest research income per staff member. The Faculty is rated top for its teaching and its hospital is a leader in developing links between academic excellence and commercial clinical activity.

In his new capacity, Professor Reid will consolidate and strengthen Glasgow's position as one of the key research and educational institutions for veterinary medicine in Europe. His leadership will add drive to the Faculty's internationally renowned strengths in the public practice and research in the veterinary profession. The University of Glasgow Veterinary School is one of only 4 European Vet Schools approved by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), endorsing academic, research and teaching excellence.

Reid was appointed to the post of Professor in 1997 at the age of only 32.Prior to his new role he held the first joint Chair between Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities, and the second Professorship appointed in Veterinary Epidemiology in the UK. A vet with experience of the private and public sector, Professor Reid has worked in Africa, the USA, is a Visiting Professor at the Universities of Sydney and Cornell, is President of the European College of Veterinary Public Health and a member of the UK Veterinary Products Committee.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For more information contact Mike Findlay the University Press Officer on 0141 330-3535 or email: m.findlay@admin.gla.ac.uk.

The original Glasgow Veterinary College was founded in 1862 and incorporated into the University of Glasgow in 1949.

First published: 16 February 2005