Harper Adams supports award winning student

Posted 6 June 2016

Harper Adams University’s veterinary pharmacy team is delighted to have supported the student winner of the British Pharmaceutical Students Association (BPSA) research poster award.

The prize went to William Northwood, an MPharm student at Cardiff University. 

For his final year project, he investigated the role of veterinary pharmacy in the management of dairy mastitis.

William, 21, said “I decided to collaborate with Harper Adams University on this research project, after being sponsored to attend a teaching session during the veterinary pharmacy course offered by the University in conjunction with the Veterinary Pharmacy Education Programme.   

“In addition, Dr Emma Bleach, a senior lecturer there, is an expert in dairy cow productivity, hence there was no better person to help with the content of my project.”

“Having discussed my project with Dr Bleach in terms of the methods, she offered to help me with the project, focusing on the data collection required.

“She helped me to construct the set of semi-structured interview questions that were asked to the dairy farmers. 

“Mastitis is a big issue for dairy farmers and is the most common dairy herd health problem. 

“I found that veterinary pharmacists are not currently playing an active role with veterinarians in the diagnosis or treatment of mastitis and that limited advice has led to a “trial and error” approach being adopted to reduce mastitis incidences. 

“I was over the moon to win the BPSA research poster award, especially as I carried out the project in an area that I am so passionate about.”

For winning the award, William is due to present his research at the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) Autumn Symposium. 

The veterinary pharmacy course directors congratulate William on his success. 

Dr Steven Kayne and Alison Pyatt are actively pursuing links with Schools of Pharmacy in the UK and overseas, offering introductory lectures and encouraging undergraduates to take an interest in the developing discipline of veterinary pharmacy.