Linnaeus – one of the UK’s leading veterinary groups – has developed a funding scheme that supports the costs for its Associates to publish their research in scientific open access journals.

The Open Access Publication Charge (OAPC) initiative was introduced in 2021 to cover the fees for Associates to publish in prominent peer-reviewed veterinary journals. Charges vary but this can cost up to £3,000 per paper.

Funding was approved for 29 Associates and eight publications last year – the authors include veterinary specialists, residents and interns across internal medicine, anaesthesia, neurology, diagnostic imaging and oncology.

The OAPC scheme has now been extended to support Associates in 2022 with a fund of at least £30,000 available this year. To date, eight papers have secured funding.

The initiative was introduced by Professor Luisa De Risio, Clinical Research & Excellence Director at Linnaeus and a specialist in veterinary neurology. She also facilitates research collaborations with other divisions of Mars Petcare, which owns Linnaeus.

Luisa said:

“By publishing in open access journals, we are ensuring that research at Linnaeus is freely available across the veterinary profession and the scientific community. This promotes the sharing of knowledge and a wider application of clinically relevant findings that can contribute to making a better world for pets.

“Being able to publish high-quality research in prestigious scientific journals supports the career development and job satisfaction of our Associates and fulfils the requirements of those training to become specialists.”

The Associates supported in 2021 were working on collaborative research across five referral hospitals* at Linnaeus.

To date, peer-reviewed research has featured in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports and BMC Veterinary Research. The studies have covered topics including canine mast cell tumours, imaging of canine intracranial intra-axial haemorrhages, electrochemotherapy as a treatment option for feline nasal melanoma and antimicrobial use in female canine urinary tract infections.

Dr Fabio Stabile, a neurology specialist at Linnaeus-owned Southfields Veterinary Specialists, has focused on how dogs with reactive seizures can be treated with levetiracetam. He said:

“By publishing through open-access journals, I hope to support as many peers as possible with treating canine reactive seizures, which can be extremely stressful for our patients and their owners. It is always great collaborating with Luisa in developing my research, which was as valuable as the OAPC funding itself.”

Beyond the OAPC funding scheme, further support is also available with the appointment of Hannah Sargent as Clinical Research Associate at Linnaeus. Hannah has just completed her PhD in feline chronic kidney disease at the Royal Veterinary College. She will be advising Associates at Linnaeus on areas including study design, ethical review and statistical analysis.

Luisa added:

“Hannah brings considerable veterinary and research experience that will really benefit our colleagues. She is passionate about the role of high-quality research to advance the veterinary profession and improve animal health and wellbeing.”

In 2020 Linnaeus Associates were involved in 510 clinical research studies, including 174 manuscripts published in scientific veterinary journals. For further information, please visit https://www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk/medical-and-nursing/clinical-research.  

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