THE panel of experts that will undertake the review of the scientific evidence base regarding the eradication of bovine TB has now been named.

The Welsh chief scientific adviser Professor John Harries and the recently appointed chairman of the panel, Professor Christopher Gaskell (principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester), have today announced the scientists who will make up the panel.

These will be Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, Chair of Public Health Wales and Director of the Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research at Cardiff University, Professor Malcolm Bennett FRCPath FHEA, co-director of the UK National Centre for Zoonosis Research and Professor of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Liverpool; Professor Bridget Emmett, deputy director of the Biogeochemistry Programme, section head and head of site at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Bangor; Professor Charles Godfray CBE FRS, a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford and Hope Professor at the Department of Zoology of the University of Oxford and Professor Dirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and head of the Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College (University of London).

Speaking about the panel, Professor Gaskell said: “I am very pleased with the make-up of the panel. It brings together a range of experience and perspectives which will allow us to make a full and proper assessment of the evidence base that informed the programme for the eradication of bovine TB.

“I very much look forward to working with the panel in taking forward this important work on what is undoubtedly a difficult area.”

The panel will invite and take evidence from experts in the area as appropriate. The report is expected to be completed by the autumn.