HBLB | Veterinary Advisory Committee

Veterinary Advisory Committee

HBLB has appointed the Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC) to advise it on HBLB’s veterinary investment. The ultimate aim of this veterinary investment is to improve the health and welfare of the racing or breeding Thoroughbred horse. The VAC supports this aim by recommending investment in priority areas identified in consultation with the racing and breeding industries.

Recommendations are made by the VAC across a range of activities including on-going research projects, education awards, and disease surveillance. It has also appointed the Education Sub-Committee to advise it on education awards; the Codes of Practice Sub-Committee to advise on the annual Codes of Practice on equine diseases; and the Thoroughbred Research and Consultation Group to advise on research scope and priorities.

The current members are listed below:

Professor Matthew Allen MA, VetMB, PhD Professor of Small Animal Surgery, Cambridge Veterinary School Primary expertise: Musculoskeletal, imaging, oncology and physiology	Chair of VAC
Dr Emma Adam BVetMed, PhD, MRCVS Assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, leading on equine stakeholder outreach and liaison; research structure; and veterinary CPD Primary expertise: Musculoskeletal Science and Infectious Disease	Member of the Education Sub-Committee
Dr Mark Bowen BVSc, PhD, MMS, FRCVS Independent consultant Professor and Director of Education, European Board of Veterinary Specialisation Primary expertise: Equine Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Education	Chair of the Codes of Practice Sub-Committee
Professor John Burford MA, VetMB, PhD, FRCVS Clinical and research specialist in equine surgery at the University of Nottingham vet school Primary expertise: Equine Surgery
Joanna Suthers BVM&S, MPhil, CertES(Soft Tissue), DipECVS, MRCVS Equine Surgeon, B&W Equine Hospital Primary expertise: Equine surgery and diagnostic orthopaedics	Member of the Education Sub-Committee
Ms Caroline George BVMS, MRCVS Veterinary Practitioner, Lambourn Equine Vets Primary expertise: Racehorse and Sports Horse Medicine	Member of the Education Sub-Committee and the Thoroughbred Research Consultation Group
Professor Lutz Goehring DVM, MS, PhD Professor of Equine Infectious Diseases, the Gluck institute, University of Kentucky Edinburgh Primary expertise: Internal Medicine and Virology
Charlie Smith BVetMed, CertEP, MRCVS Veterinary Practitioner, Newmarket Equine Hospital Part-time Clinical Associate Professor in Equine Practice at the University of Nottingham Primary expertise: Racehorse practice and Stud medicine
Dr Patrick Sells BVSc, BSc, MCVS Director of Orbital Veterinary Services Primary expertise: Reproduction, neonatology, stud medicine	Member of the Education Sub-Committee
Dr Ellen Singer BA, DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVS/ECVS FRCVS Equine Surgeon, Sussex Equine Hospital Primary expertise: Equine Surgery with Orthopaedic bias, Poor performance in the Equine Athlete, Veterinary Education Research focus: Bone biology and biomechanics	Chair of the Education Sub Committee
Dr Katherine Staines BSc, PhD Senior Lecturer, University of Brighton Primary expertise: Musculoskeletal Biology & orthopaedics
Meta Osborne Veterinary Surgeon and Guest Lecturer, University College Dublin Primary expertise: Reproductive management
Jenny Hall Equine Surgeon, Lambourn Equine Vets Primary expertise: National and International Equestrian Sport

Last Updated: 23 July 2025