BSAVA has entered a partnership with the University of Liverpool to develop a national UK disease surveillance network for companion animals. This has huge potential for our profession and animal welfare. Now we need you and your practice to join the team - email savsnet@bsava.com to find out how to get involved.

What is SAVSNET?
The Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network, SAVSNET, was established in 2008 by a team of respected veterinary scientists at the University of Liverpool. The ultimate aim was to develop a national network for monitoring diseases, such as gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory conditions, in small animals.

Pilot data
SAVSNET has successfully piloted two elements:

1. The first involves recruitment of veterinary diagnostic laboratories, the collection and collation of their anonymised results, and the compilation of quarterly reports based on the findings.
2. In the second part of the project, SAVSNET captured data from practices in on the diagnosis and treatment by practitioners of more syndromic conditions, for example, diarrhoea and vomiting, respiratory disease and pruritus.

BSAVA’s involvement
When funding for the pilot SAVSNET project came to an end in August 2011, BSAVA believed that it is in fact vital for the successful management of disease in small animals for the project to continue and expand.

On 17 November 2011 BSAVA Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the principle of BSAVA supporting the SAVSNET project. BSAVA and the University of Liverpool are entering into a joint partnership which will run and own the research project and all the associated intellectual property.

Vital Partnership
BSAVA will chair the new company and have a 51% share holding. The three year SAVSNET pilot project has been very successful in generating data from commercial veterinary laboratories and practice management systems. BSAVA will be investing £600,000 over 3 years and offering additional accountancy, management and marketing resources to the project.

University of Liverpool is making an ongoing investment and has obviously contributed greatly in setting up the project, contribution of the existing data and resources. This is a major financial commitment of members’ resources on behalf of BSAVA and is not undertaken lightly. We are performing a due diligence exercise to establish that SAVSNET can deliver as expected.

Getting involved
Participation by diagnostic labs and practices will obviously be completely voluntary. And all data gained will be made completely anonymous before being reported. For more information email savsnet@bsava.com and we will get back to you with details about how you can get involved and benefit from the scheme.