Professor Laura Green, Head of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, has been shortlisted for an Innovator of the Year award from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Nominated in the ‘Social Impact’ category, Professor Green’s research has led to halving the level of lameness in sheep flocks - from ten percent to five percent - in a decade, saving a million sheep a year from becoming lame.

Professor Green’s main area of research is in complex bacterial diseases of livestock including foot rot, which causes 80% of lameness in sheep. These diseases cause poor and production losses.

She collaborates with environmental microbiologists and modellers to advance our understanding of control of these diseases - and works directly with farmers and veterinarians to understand their motivations for managing endemic diseases, in collaboration with psychologists.

Now in its ninth year, the BBSRC Innovator of the Year competition recognises the important impact bioscience research and innovation have on lives, society and the economy.

It celebrates the individuals and small teams who have harnessed the potential of their excellent research to significantly address real world challenges across the commercial, social, international and early career impact categories.

Professor Green commented on her nomination:

“I am delighted to have been shortlisted for this Innovation award. I have led a large interdisciplinary team studying foot rot in sheep since 2000. We have worked closely with the sheep industry to facilitate changes in management of lame sheep and it is fantastic that we have had such impact”

The awards will be presented at a high-profile event in London on 24 May 2017 in front of an invited audience of leading figures from the worlds of investment, industry, government, charity and academia.

More information here.

Notes to editors:

Warwick’s School of Life Sciences is an international centre of excellence with more than 80% of our research rated as 'world leading or internationally excellent' in the REF 2014 assessment and 94% overall student satisfaction in the 2016 National Student Survey (NSS).

The School’s focus is in excellent teaching and research with impact.

4 May 2017

Further information, contact:

Luke Walton, International Press Officer

+44 (0) 7824 540 863

+44 (0) 2476 150 868

L dot Walton dot 1 at warwick dot ac dot uk