Update from the Editors

Contributions to the news section are not subject to peer review and reflect the opinion of the contributing authors.

After 3 years of devoted work for Laboratory Animals as deputy editor, Arieh Bomzon retired at the end of September 2018. With the upcoming 50-year reunion of veterinary graduates in Sydney, Australia, he felt that it is time to step aside in order to let the younger generation of laboratory animal veterinarians and animal welfare scientists take the lead in determining the journal’s future. In his letter of resignation, he thanked the journal’s editorial team, the editorial board members, the reviewers, the publisher and the executive committee and council of management of LAL Ltd for their support. It is now our turn to thank him for all his work, his constructive input, and his contribution to the oversight of the review process. It is also thanks to Arieh that case reports were valued and again found acceptance. His reflections on the future direction of the journal will be taken into account.

In August, Gavin Jarvis was appointed as Deputy Editor and will succeed Arieh Bomzon. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome him and to introduce him to the readership of Laboratory Animals.

Gavin Jarvis

Gavin Jarvis’s interest in laboratory animals arises from experience in diverse areas: pharmacology, statistics, ethics and veterinary medicine.

At the University of Cambridge, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1992 and subsequently completed a PhD on the pharmacology of endotoxin-induced activation of equine platelets. In 1996, he moved to Astra Pharmaceuticals (later AstraZeneca) in Loughborough as a pharmacologist in anti-platelet drug discovery. The outcome of this research, ticagrelor, was nominated for clinical development in 2000, and licensed for the prevention of thrombotic events in 2011.

In 2000, Gavin returned to academia, working in the Department of Pharmacology in Oxford and the Department of Biochemistry in Cambridge. In 2010, he was appointed as a University Lecturer in Pharmacology in the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast. His research into the pharmacology of anti-platelet drugs and collagen-induced platelet activation has involved the use of synthetic peptide technology, analytical HPLC and genetically-modified mice.

Since 2012, he has been a University Lecturer in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience in Cambridge, UK, where he teaches veterinary anatomy, pharmacology, human reproduction and statistics. He is a Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Gavin was awarded an MA in Bioethics and Medical Law from St Mary’s University, Twickenham in 2015. He is deputy chairman of the Animal Welfare & Ethical Review Body committee in the University of Cambridge that focuses on the 3Rs.

Early in his career, Gavin developed a strong interest in statistics, and its application in biomedical research. He lectures on statistics both to Animals in Scientific Procedures Act (ASPA) Project Licence applicants and to students within the University and beyond. His research involves the application and development of statistical and analytical methods in pharmacology.

Gavin Jarvis is committed to the highest standards in animal welfare, statistical competence and scientific integrity.

Currently, two special issues are in preparation, with Paulin Jirkof overseeing the review process. The first on Microbiota, with Axel Kornerup-Hansen and Craig Franklin as guest editors, is expected to be published in the beginning of 2019. This issue will explore the role of microbiota in certain diseases as well as the past, present and future of different aspects of animal-based microbiota research.

The second special issue, scheduled for 2019/2020, will highlight advances in pain, stress and severity assessment in laboratory animals. André Bleich and René Tolba will act as guest editors.

At the end of 2017, Nathalie Baehler retired from the position of assistant, due to time constraints. We thank her for the networking with subscribing societies and looking after contributions for the News section. Her work will be taken up by Penny Alborough from the executive committee. Guidelines for contributions are found on the website of the journal, and contributions should be sent to [e-mail].