Dr Deborah Hoyle on zoonotic diseases and One Heath

Could you tell us about your background and your research?

I obtained my vet degree from Cambridge, a long time ago. I went into practice for a short period, but wanted to do research, so I came up to Edinburgh for a PhD in parasitology at the Vet School.

I then decided to move into public health. I started research in antimicrobial resistance in cattle because that was of interest to me. I took a career break for 10 years to raise a family, before coming back into research. Since then, I have been looking at diseases in cattle that can affect humans, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pig heards.

What was your motivation to study zoonotic diseases in cattle?

I have always been interested in trying to address issues within the veterinary field that are of concern to human health. I’m also very interested in epidemiology and learning about how disease spreads, so zoonotic diseases seemed like a natural area of research to move into.

What are you working on?

My team and I are currently working alongside multiple research institutions looking at the impact of a recent policy change affecting pig farming. An additive thought to influence antimicrobial resistance development in pigs is being removed from their diet. That particular ingredient was added to suppress a common disease condition affecting piglets. 

There's a strong public health and One Health aspect to this project, as antimicrobial resistance from pig farms can spread into the environment. Taking that into consideration, our research is looking at the impact of this policy change on the welfare of pigs across British farms and paving the way towards the development of sustainable alternatives to maintaining animal health.

Are there any recent findings in the field of infectious diseases that you'd like to explore further?

There are many factors that influence antimicrobial resistance development within livestock and human health. One of the main drivers is the use of antimicrobials in farming. I’m keen to keep exploring that system of managing and preventing disease, and diving deeper into how that can be implemented. 

What's your favourite project that you've worked on to date?

It is probably what I'm working on at the moment, looking the carriage of antimicrobial resistance within bacteria, how resistance transmits between bacteria, and how it is potentially transmitted from one sector, such as pig farms, to another sector in the industry. 

I like looking at the bigger picture and exploring what the implications are for society. Anything that affects the farming industry will also influence farmers’ livelihoods, and this all interconnects. The solution to avoiding antimicrobial resistance is often portrayed as very simple, like the issue would fix itself if people stop using antibiotics. In reality, there are lots of cultural and economic influences to consider.

Aside from my research, I'm also involved in teaching for the online MSc in One Health  programme here at the Vet School, and I support a variety of dissertation projects and teaching resources within that which I find very interesting.

What are some of the challenges you face in your work?

One of the biggest challenges for me and my team is obtaining samples and information from the field. Currently I'm working with about 25 farmers across the UK who've given us permission to collect samples and data from their farms, but there's a lot of organisation involved within that, and logistical challenges.

Another challenge is to be able to produce results and data that can be fed back to farmers in a timely fashion. It can be tricky to make sure that people understand how long it can take to generate meaningful data and that it must be robust before we use it to make recommendations that inform policy or are implemented in the field.

How did you transition back to your career in science after your break?

It was quite challenging coming back after 10 years. There were a lot of technological changes,for example, genomic sequencing wasn't available at the point that I had left, and when I came back, genomic sequencing was commonplace. 

I was fortunate to obtain a Wellcome Trust Career Re-entry Fellowship, for a project looking at a zoonotic bacterial organism carried by cattle.

It felt like a very steep learning curve. It made me understand that perhaps it’s not feasible for a scientist to catch up with all the information missed over a decade - we need to be able to link in with people who can support us, and then work collaboratively.

What advice would you give to other scientists in a similar position?

I wouldn't necessarily recommend such a long career break. That length of time was quite challenging to bridge. If you're able to have temporary or part-time work over the period of your break, or towards the end of it, that can help transition you through. 

Networking is also essential – maintain some contacts throughout your break, and consider looking for a mentor when you get back to work. There are very useful mentorship programmes within the University and with research partners across the UK.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I spend probably about a third of my time with teaching-related activities for our One Health Masters and Conservation Medicine postgraduate taught programmes. This can involve preparing materials and supervising dissertation students. The programmes I teach are online and the students are located all over the world.

On the research side, there’s a lot of admin and communication work involved in the project I’m managing. I also keep track of what is happening in the lab, as I have a postdoctoral research assistant and a research assistant associated with the project. I also communicate with partners in the field.

What do you enjoy about interacting with the students?

I enjoy interacting with the students because they're from diverse backgrounds. They all have such different experiences and outlooks. It's really interesting hearing about their work and aspirations – I find them very inspiring, and being able to support them feels very rewarding.

How do you see your field evolving over the next decade?

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there's a lot more awareness of the risk of zoonotic infections and how rapidly they can spread to humans. As a result, there is a lot more awareness and funding, enabling more research to look at diseases that affect humans and animals. 

Antimicrobial resistance is also of enormous concern, and I think the concept of One Health is becoming much more mainstream. With these two factors combined, there are many opportunities for vets with research experience to contribute to public and animal health.

In an ideal world, what would you like to achieve through your research?

Ultimately, I'm a vet and I want to be able to contribute to my profession. In my case, that involves making advancements to managing the overlap between human and animal health and welfare. I always think back to the oath that I took when joining the profession. It's all about endeavouring to do your best for the animals that are under your care. As a researcher I hope to contribute as much as I can to the wider veterinary field.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? 

I have recently read a very moving diary of communications between a group of Afghan women documenting their experiences. One is a young woman named Maryam. She’s confined to her house through health issues and Taliban restrictions, with no opportunity to leave Kabul. It would be a privilege to share a meal with Maryam together with the other women whose voices are heard in the book – and naturally, the choice of food would be theirs, though I would be keen to sample a delicious Afghan vegetarian curry with flatbreads.

Otherwise, tea and scones in front of a cosy fire with some of the determined, independent and brave first women students attending Newnham College, Cambridge, where I studied for my first degree and to whom I am indebted for setting a path for the rest of us to follow.