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Kennel Club Genetics Centre data moves to Cambridge
Scientific work being carried out at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.

Biological material including 40,000 DNA samples saved.

Vital research assets from the Kennel Club Genetics Centre have been moved from their base at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Newmarket to Cambridge University.

In a joint statement, the Kennel Club and the AHT confirmed the safe transfer of scientific data and biological material, including 40,000 DNA samples. The news comes in the wake of the closure of the AHT headquarters, announced earlier this month.

Bill King, chairman of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which has funded the Genetics Centre since 2009, thanked Professor James Wood at Cambridge Vet School, for his help in securing the safekeeping of the samples.

“The Kennel Club and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust have long supported and worked together with the AHT to improve dog health, so it is a very positive development that the Kennel Club’s considerable investment in this area has been saved in spite of a few weeks of uncertainty," he said.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust was was established to accelerate research into inherited canine diseases and aims to develop mouth swab screening tests to determine affected and carrier dogs.

KC Genetics Centre leader Dr Cathryn Mellersh, commented: “Since the Genetics Centre was founded in 2009, by collaborating closely with dog breeders and veterinary surgeons we have developed DNA tests for 22 different inherited diseases which benefit around 50 different breeds of dog.

“We know that breeders make good use of DNA tests to reduce the frequency of these mutations and thus improve the genetic health of countless dogs. There is no reason why this ethos should change now that the information is stored in Cambridge and the Kennel Club Genetics Centre staff are relieved and grateful that all this information and resources have been saved.”

Future developments from the KC Genetics Centre are expected in due course.

Image (C) Heidi Hudson/KC Charitable Trust

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.