Laura Falzon

I come from the sunny island of Malta, and studied veterinary medicine at the University of Perugia in Italy. I then completed a PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Guelph in Canada. For my PhD, I investigated the epidemiology of gastro-intestinal nematodes in sheep flocks, looking both at the frequency of resistance towards anthelmintic drugs, and how well the nematodes survived on pasture during the winter. I was also involved in a systematic review looking at management practices associated with anthelmintic resistance in sheep.

I then completed a residency with the European College of Veterinary Public Health based at the University of Bern in Switzerland. During this residency I participated in several teaching activities, provided statistical consultancy for under- and graduate students, and was involved in various research projects. These included a project on the prioritization of zoonotic diseases for surveillance and control programs, evaluation of an on-field diagnostic test for Brucellosis, and a systematic review looking at the type of quantitative outcomes described when using a “One Health” approach. I recently became a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Public Health (sub-specialty Population Medicine).

I joined the University of Liverpool as a post-doctoral research associate in June 2016 and worked on the ZooLinK project based in western Kenya. The objective of this project was to develop an integrated surveillance system for fourteen zoonotic diseases in Western Kenya, by building on existing services while enhancing sampling, improving diagnostic capacity, and facilitating data-sharing.

My main research interests are small ruminant epidemiology, endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases, and animal welfare. I have a keen interest in the translation and implementation of research results, both within policy frameworks, and in practice by the end-users. I also volunteer with a small ruminant producer organization in Malta, where I provide consultancy and guidance on how to improve management practices and the overall sustainability of the local sheep and goat industry.