Animal Health Trust facts for kids
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| Founded | 1942 |
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| Founder | WR Wooldridge CBE, FRCVS |
| Dissolved | 31 July 2020 |
| Focus | Horses, dogs and cats |
| Location |
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Area served
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Veterinary medicine |
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Key people
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Peter Webbon, CEO |
| Website | http://www.aht.org.uk/ (Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20200508220239/http://www.aht.org.uk/) |
The Animal Health Trust (AHT) was a special charity in the United Kingdom. It had about 200 scientists and vets working there. Their main goal was to study and help cure diseases in pets. They focused on horses, dogs, and cats. The AHT also did research and trained new vets.
It started in 1942. Even Queen Elizabeth II supported it for many years. The charity was based in Newmarket. It closed down on July 31, 2020, because of money problems, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AHT did research in two main areas. One was about inherited diseases. These are health problems passed down through families. This research looked at genetics (how traits are passed on). It also studied oncology (cancer) and stem cells.
The second area was infectious diseases. These are illnesses that can spread. This research included studying bacteriology (bacteria) and virology (viruses). They also looked at immunology (how bodies fight disease). The AHT shared its findings in science magazines like Nature.
The AHT had two main clinics. These were the Centre for Small Animal Studies and the Centre for Equine Studies. The small animal centre helped dogs and cats. The equine centre focused on horses. Both clinics offered special tests for diseases. They also did DNA testing. These centres also helped train new vets.
History
The Animal Health Trust began in 1942. It was first called the "Veterinary Education Trust." Walter Reginald Wooldridge started it. In 1948, its name changed to the "Animal Health Trust."
One of its first big helpers was Annie Henrietta Yule. She owned a horse farm. She let the Trust use her stables in Newmarket. The AHT worked from there until 1999.
Sadly, the Animal Health Trust faced money problems. The COVID-19 pandemic made these problems worse. Because of this, the charity had to close. It officially shut down on July 31, 2020. Its medical equipment was sold in August 2020. The AHT's main site was also put up for sale. About 250 staff members lost their jobs.
