RUMA Agri and RUMA Companion Animal and Equine (CA&E) has today announced a new Chair of the RUMA Independent Scientific Group (ISG), Professor Pete Borriello CB, who has had a long and esteemed career in the fields of both animal and human health.
Professor Pete Borriello CB is a microbiology graduate and Fellow of the University College London. His career history includes senior appointments with the Medical Research Council, University of Nottingham, Public Health Laboratory Service, Health Protection Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. His science research has led to over 300 publications, and he has been chair of many international and national learned societies and committees. He was the first chair of the World Health Organisation Laboratory Twinning Programme, in support of improvements to help compliance with the new International Health Regulations, and was the first Chair of Med-Vet-Net (a consortium of European animal and human health Institutes co-ordinating improved zoonoses research and responses). He was a member of the EU Heads of Medicine Agencies Management Group for more than five years. In 2020 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath for services in Global Animal Health and Tackling Anti-Microbial Resistance. He is also a Trustee for Safe Medicines for Animals through regulatory training (SMArt).
The RUMA ISG was established in 2017 and until now, has worked exclusively for RUMA Agri. Following the inception of RUMA CA&E in recent years, both RUMA organisations felt it would be more effective to jointly share the expertise of the group which now means the ISG provides a dual role in supporting the work of RUMA Agri and RUMA CA&E.
The ISG members cover areas of human and animal medicine, and they advise both RUMA organisations on technical developments, provide a fact-based and scientific approach, and provide independent expert voices with a One Health perspective on the responsible use of medicines in farm, companion and equine animals.
The members of the Group are all eminent specialists in their own right, in fields related to the responsible use of medicines across human and animal medicine. They cover a wide range of specialisms and share a common desire to bring factual evidence and science to the debate around animal medicines, with the most recent focus being on antibiotic resistance in particular, to prompt the right actions, while ensuring animal health and welfare is protected.
Professor Pete Borriello CB, says of his new appointment as the Chair of RUMA ISG: “I consider it a great honour to have been appointed to this role, particularly as it is by two organisations for which I have much respect. I look forward to supporting RUMA Agri and RUMA CA&E by the provision of evidence analysis and evidence based challenge, to further protect animal, human, and environmental health.”
Catherine McLaughlin, Chair of RUMA Agri, has welcomed the addition of Professor Pete Borriello CB as Chair of the RUMA ISG saying: “Pete’s extensive career and achievements are a hugely valuable addition to the ISG. His broad and global experience across both human and animal health and inter-disciplinary experience, will add valuable breadth to the ISG and ultimately, to the role and impact of both RUMA organisations.”
Gwyn Jones, Chair of RUMA CA&E, adds: “This is a wonderful appointment, and we are delighted to be working with Pete as the new Chair of the RUMA ISG. As the newer ‘sibling’ organisation within the RUMA family, this is an exciting time for RUMA CA&E as we continue to grow and establish our role and remit across the CA&E sectors.
“The vision of both RUMA organisations is for the UK to lead the way in the responsible use of medicines across livestock, companion animal and equine sectors, through evidence-based and measurable activities that will improve the stewardship of medicines and optimise animal health and welfare, as well as related human and environmental health. Therefore, having a shared resource in the ISG that supports us both and brings experts together with that shared vision, is incredibly important and helps us continue to grow and evolve.”
For more information on RUMA Agri visit RUMA – Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance
For more information on RUMA CA&E visit RUMA CA&E (rumacae.org.uk)