vHive is a strategic partnership that leverages data-driven innovation to improve animal health outcomes.
Data-driven research is important for disease prevention and overall improvement of animal health. The Veterinary Health Innovation Engine (vHive) is a strategic partnership between the University of Surrey and Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company. We take a multidisciplinary approach focused on data-driven innovation in animal health.
vHive’s work focuses on many important areas across animal health, including chronic diseases, immunotherapy, infectious diseases, quality of life, aging companion animals, sustainability and One Health, AI and machine learning, biobanking and laboratory information management systems. Innovation Platform spoke to the experts at vHive to learn more about their work.
Can you tell us more about vHive and how it works to improve animal health?
vHive’s goal is to capture data and information, transform it into actionable insights and real-world solutions, and accelerate innovation in animal health. vHive’s unique partnerships provide a multidisciplinary approach that combines academia and industry to deliver outcomes for both livestock and companion animals. Through the expertise within the vHive team, we are able to take a ‘One Health’ approach and incorporate and transfer knowledge from human and animal medicine into translational research opportunities.
vHive is also home to the first livestock and companion animal health incubator. The vHive Incubator is designed to support early-stage startups and entrepreneurs in the animal health sector by providing access to resources, training and expertise in areas such as business planning, product development and commercialization.
What are your key priorities/focus areas for driving innovation in animal health?
vHive’s research focus areas include data analytics and informatics, translational research, and startup incubation. By leveraging AI and big data, we generate actionable insights that inform veterinarian decision-making. Our team’s multidisciplinary expertise provides opportunities to overcome translational gaps to develop new products and approaches to clinical practice. Additionally, we support early-stage startups that drive innovation, rapid experimentation, and cross-sector collaboration by targeting unmet industry needs.
Can you tell us about your recent highlights and work accomplishments?
We are extremely proud of the success vHive Incubator has shown since its launch in 2023. vHive Incubator has 24 company onboarding across four cohorts, 14 expert mentors, and a network of 70+ organizations across investment, government, academia, and industry support.
A highlight of our research is the publication of several research papers investigating key challenges in innovation in veterinary medicine. All of these can be found on our website. One example is a recent paper that investigated chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and dogs by applying text mining techniques to compare the veterinary literature with that of human CKD research. Here, we have identified gaps in knowledge in veterinary medicine, highlighted unexplored areas, and proposed new directions for research based on trends in human medicine. You can read the full paper here.
In addition to this, we are in the process of establishing the vHive Biobank, a collection of animal biological samples and clinical and biomedical data used for research purposes. It will be built with a state-of-the-art Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to provide researchers with easily accessible samples and streamline sample collection for research.
We also host events addressing current issues in animal health, providing a valuable platform for open discussion, knowledge exchange and the development of new research opportunities. Our events bring together industry experts from a variety of disciplines, including academics, clinicians, industry experts, and innovative entrepreneurs, to explore new challenges and create collaborative solutions.
Can governments do more to support innovation in animal health?
There is always more that can be done to support innovation in the animal health sector, especially compared to the higher levels of funding and infrastructure available in the human health sector.
Despite clear transformative potential, animal health often remains underfunded and a low priority, an imbalance that is concerning given the rise in zoonotic diseases. This highlights the critical need for integrated health approaches across species. Further investment in innovation in animal health will provide opportunities to improve animal welfare in addition to strengthening public health through the One Health approach.
This article will be published in an upcoming Special Focus Publication on Animal Health.
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