The Royal College of Pathologists and the British Society of Veterinary Pathologists have written to the Vice Chancellor at the University of Cambridge to raise their concerns about the recommendation from the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences to cease veterinary education at the University in 2032.

The letter cites the far-reaching consequences that have the potential to affect human as well as animal health if the closure were to go ahead. In particular, the closure would reduce the pool of veterinarians available to work in public health, government aganices and research instiutions that protect human health, weakening the UK's capacity to respond to zoonotic diseases such as rabies, COVID-19, Ebola and tuberculosis which all result from zoonotic pathologens.

Full text of the letter 

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and British Society of Veterinary Pathologists (BSVP) wish to express our profound concern regarding the recommendation to cease veterinary education at the University of Cambridge and to advocate strongly for the continuation of this vital programme.

The RCPath represents over 11,000 pathologists and trainees working across both human and veterinary medicine. We write not only as advocates for veterinary pathology as a discipline, but as representatives of the broader pathology community who recognise that veterinary medicine is inextricably linked to human health, public health, and our collective ability to respond to future health threats.

While we understand the University faces complex challenges, the decision to close the veterinary medicine programme would have far reaching consequences that extend well beyond veterinary medicine. The closure would weaken the UK's capacity to respond to zoonotic disease threats and would reduce the pool of veterinarians available to work in public health, government agencies, and research institutions that protect human populations.

Cambridge's veterinary programme has an international reputation for One Health research and comparative pathogen biology. Other institutions, including Oxford and Imperial College, are seeking to forge partnerships with veterinary schools precisely because they recognise this gap in their own pandemic research capabilities. Closing Cambridge would eliminate rather than preserve this excellence. The UK continues to face a shortage of veterinary professionals. Reducing training capacity at a time of workforce shortage serves neither veterinary nor human medicine. The RCPath and BSVP are particularly concerned about the pipeline of veterinary pathologists, who are already in limited supply.

The closure would reduce capacity to address animal health challenges, which have ethical implications and economic consequences for agriculture, companion animal care, and wildlife conservation. At a time when global health security depends on One Health approaches, reducing veterinary training capacity represents a strategic weakness in the UK's health infrastructure.

The RCPath and BSVP respectfully urges the University of Cambridge to reconsider the recommendation to close the veterinary medicine programme. To recognise the broader implications for human health, pandemic preparedness, and One Health research. To provide the necessary support and investment to ensure the programme can achieve full accreditation and continue its mission of producing world-class veterinary professionals and pathologists. And to consider the unique role that Cambridge plays in the national and international landscape of veterinary education and One Health research.

• Dr Bernie Croal, President, The Royal College of Pathologists
• Dr Pamela Kelly, Chair, Veterinary Pathology Specialty Advisory Committee, The Royal College of Pathologists
• Dr Stephanie Plog, President of the British Society of Veterinary Pathology