Veterinary medicine facility opens in US
Image: Karin Higgins/UC Davis
A new $58.5 million (£38.8 million) veterinary medicine research facility has opened at the University of California (UC).
The research centre, which is located at the university's Davis campus, will be dedicated to making discoveries in basic science as well as human, animal and environmental health.
It will also become part of the largest research enterprise among veterinary colleges in the US, which is together worth $63.7 million (£42.2 million).
The new four-storey building covers 76,000 square feet, and is situated near to the School of Veterinary Medicine's veterinary medical teaching hospital.
More than 400 staff and students will be housed at the centre. It features an open laboratory, as well as offices, conference rooms and administrative space.
UC Davis has been intended for development into a unified veterinary medical campus since the 1960s – a concept that has been taken forward by consecutive deans of the school.
Prior to the building opening ceremonies, public tours of the building were held. More than 200 guests and campus members were in attendance, and were given demonstrations of the various research departments.
"Research discoveries begin with an idea, as did the planning for this facility," said Michael Lairmore, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. "I am humbled by the vision of my predecessors and so very grateful that they built a facilities foundation and future for us.
"Their collective efforts over more than four decades are also indicative of the ongoing discoveries associated with improving animal, human and environmental health, which take time and many, many partners and participants."
A second phase of building work is currently in planning at the veterinary school, in order to modernise and increase capacity of its clinical services.
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Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
