FAO Reference Centres for animal health are institutions designated by the Director-General to provide specific and technical advice and services to FAO Member Countries on issues related to FAO’s mandate. FAO invites institutions and universities to apply to become a reference centre in any of the 25 thematic areas that are critical for the Member Countries. Other areas will be identified as needs arise.
The Pirbright Institute
The Pirbright Institute Ash Road, Pirbright,Surrey, GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
Carrie Batten
IN PARTNERSHIP SINCE: 10/03/2025
COUNTRY: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
AREAS OF COLLABORATION: Lumpy skin disease (LSD)
The Pirbright Institute
Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
Carrie Batten[email protected]
IN PARTNERSHIP SINCE: 06/06/2024
COUNTRY: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
AREAS OF COLLABORATION: Rinderpest
Universidad de València
Av. Blasco Ibáñez 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Santiago Mas-Coma
[email protected]
IN PARTNERSHIP SINCE: 02/04/2024
COUNTRY: Spain
AREAS OF COLLABORATION: Parasitology
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research
Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, the Netherlands
Aldo Dekker
[email protected]
IN PARTNERSHIP SINCE: 03/04/2024
COUNTRY: Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
AREAS OF COLLABORATION: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR)
Houtribweg 39 8221 RA Lelystad The Netherlands
Focal point: Armin R.W. Elbers
[email protected]
IN PARTNERSHIP SINCE: 06/08/2025
COUNTRY: Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
AREAS OF COLLABORATION: Veterinary epidemiology
Find out more
video
FAO Reference Centres: The fight against animal diseases
Animal diseases threaten both food security and human health worldwide. FAO’s global network of Reference Centres plays a crucial role in combating these diseases by providing technical expertise, supporting early detection, and enhancing disease control measures.
video
FAO Global Conference 2024 - Reference Centres, laboratories and support networks
Find out more about the importance of innovation and collaboration among stakeholders to improve animal health systems and support sustainable livestock production.
video
The importance of vaccines and vaccination programmes
Interviewees discuss and highlight the different challenges that a vaccine campaign can encounter, from production of quality vaccines, to supply chain, delivery and post vaccination monitoring.
Highlights
Recognition of good practices and innovations in sustainable livestock transformation, One Health, animal health and Reference Centres
27/05/2025
FAO leads international efforts to achieve food security and transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable...
Projects
Fighting the scourge of tsetse flies and trypanosomosis in Africa
28/08/2024
Tsetse flies and the diseases they transmit pose a significant threat to both human and animal health in sub-Saharan Africa. Here we explore their severe...
Highlights
Strengthening animal health: The role of FAO Reference Centres
23/08/2024
FAO Reference Centres play a crucial role in strengthening the animal health system globally through advanced diagnostics, improving surveillance,...