Our team
Our team of board-certified veterinary pathologists, pathology residents, and technicians work together and collaborate with diagnosticians and other specialists nationwide, to offer the very highest standards of service for the veterinary and scientific community.
Meet the team
Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam
Head of School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor in Clinical Physiology
See profile
Professor Roberto La Ragione
Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Head of the School of Biosciences
Biography
Roberto graduated in 1995 and then went on to study for a post graduate degree in veterinary microbiology at the Royal Veterinary College (University of London). In 1996 he moved to the government's Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) to undertake a PhD on the pathogenesis of E. coli in poultry. On completion of his PhD studies, Roberto commenced a post-doctoral position at Royal Holloway, University of London, studying E. coli virulence factors and vaccine development.
Since 2001 his work has focused largely on the analysis of the colonisation, shedding and transmission of E. coli O157:H7 by all farmed animal species and he has led a number of commercial, Defra, research council (BBSRC, MRC, EPSRC, AHRC, Innovate) and EU projects in this area. He has published extensively in the area of host-microbe interaction with a particular emphasis on E. coli and Salmonella.
His current research interests focus on the pathogenesis of food-borne pathogens with a particular interest on AMR and the development of intervention strategies including vaccination, pre and probiotics for the control of bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella, Brachyspira and E. coli in food producing animals.
In 2005, Roberto was appointed Head of Pathogenesis and Control at the AHVLA and in 2010 he was appointed Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½. He gained the FRCPath in 2010 and in 2012 was appointed the Associate Dean for Veterinary Strategy in the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½. In 2014 he was appointed to the position of Head of the Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases and Director of the Veterinary Pathology Centre. In 2019 he was appointed Deputy Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½. In 2021 he was appointed Head of the School of Biosciences and In 2024 Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.
He is the past president of the Med-Vet-Net Association and the Veterinary Research Club, the current Chair of the Humanimal Trust, a Trustee of the Houghton Trust, a member of the APHA Science Advisory Board, a member of the FSA ACMSF AMR sub-committee and the Chair of the Royal College of Pathologists Veterinary Pathology SAC. Roberto is an Associate member of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology and in 2020 he was awarded Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In 2023, Roberto was awarded the RCPath College Medal.
Dr Martha Betson
Associate Professor in Veterinary Parasitology and Head of Department
Head of Department for Comparative Bioscience
Martha graduated from University of Cambridge with a BA in Natural Sciences and went on to do a PhD in cell biology at University College London. She then undertook postdoctoral work at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, where she used the fruit fly as a model to gain insight into signalling pathways regulating cancer. While in Boston Martha developed an interest in public health and infectious diseases.
After studying for an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Professor Russell Stothard, first at the Natural History Museum and then at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Here she played an integral role in the Schistosomiasis in Mothers and Infants project, investigating the epidemiology of a neglected parasitic disease in mothers and young children living in lakeshore communities in Uganda. Subsequently Martha took up a post as a research fellow in One Health at the Royal Veterinary College.
Martha joined the School of Veterinary Medicine at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ in May 2015 and is currently Head of Department, Comparative Biomedical Sciences.
Kate English
Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Biography
After graduating I worked at Battersea Dog's home and in first opinion general practice (mixed) before returning to academia to complete a residency in Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Following the residency I worked in commercial pathology labs and academia, with a dual role of diagnostics and teaching at the RVC for over 10 years. Before joining ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ in 2022.
Dr Sarhad Alnajjar
Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology
Biography
Dr. Sarhad Alnajjar holds a Ph.D. from Iowa State University, USA, in Veterinary Pathology with a minor in microbiology and immunobiology. Also, he finished the veterinary pathology residency training. His Ph.D. was on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in the neonatal lamb model of human infants. He had his BVM and MSc at Baghdad Univerisity, where he researched Brucella immunopathology utilizing the Guinea pig model.
Dr. Sarhad Alnajjar was previously a faculty at the University of Baghdad, where he taught veterinary pathology for 3rd and 4th-year veterinary students.
Javier Marrero
Lecturer (Veterinary Anatomic Pathologist)
Biography
Javier Deniz Marrero is a Board eligible veterinary pathologist who joined the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ in early 2023. After finishing his Veterinary medicine degree at University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) in 2017, he decided to broaden his veterinary pathology knowledge. He therefore joined the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands as a Pathology intern and then as a resident in Veterinary Pathology. He joined the Pathology team at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ as an Anatomic Pathologist and lecturer, and teaches different subjects of veterinary pathology to both 2nd and 5th year students, aside providing the post-mortem services.
Joana Crisostomo
Lecturer in Veterinary Surveillance and Investigation
Biography
Joana graduated in 2008 from Porto University in Portugal. She worked in small animal practice and veterinary sales before she moved permanently to the UK in 2012. She worked initially as a meat inspector and later joined the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as a Senior Veterinary Inspector. During her time at APHA, she was involved with several aspects of the government vet field work, across different areas of England. She now joined the Pathology department at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ as a Lecturer in Veterinary Surveillance and Investigation, and is developing into the Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) role.
Pablo Diaz Santana
Resident in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
Tom Hussey
Pathology and Building Facilities Manager
Biography
As the Pathology and Building Facilities Manager, Tom oversees the day-to-day operations of our state-of-the-art commercial containment level 2 and 3 post-mortem facilities, alongside the Anatomy laboratory where undergraduate veterinary students gain critical hands-on experience. With a strong commitment to excellence, Tom ensures that all laboratory facilities across the veterinary Pathology Centre maintain the highest standards of health and safety, as well as biosafety compliance.
Tom’s role involves meticulous oversight of facility operations, fostering an environment conducive to learning and research while prioritizing the well-being of our students and staff. He works collaboratively with faculty and students to enhance educational experiences and provide the necessary resources for advanced veterinary studies. Tom’s dedication to maintaining stringent safety protocols and promoting best practices has been instrumental in creating a safe and effective learning environment for future veterinary professionals.
Previous to joining the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½, Tom worked for the Animal and Plant Health Agency for ten years in a ACDP3/SAPO3 high containment post mortem facility, carrying out post mortems on large animals, whilst being the licenced slaughter man on site. Here, he was involved in long-term projects such as BSE/TSE and TB suspect animal investigations, carrying out sample collection in the post mortem room, assisting with live animal blood sampling and day-to-day farm animal work in high containment facilities. Tom was also a trainer and assessor for the humane euthanasia procedures and carcase dismantling in the facility, shortly before becoming the building's NACWO (Named Animal Care & Welfare Officer), ensuring that the highest standards of animal welfare were kept whilst carrying out home office procedures.
Ollie Lonsdale
Senior Pathology Technician
Biography
Originally from a background in agriculture, I joined the Animal, Plant, and Health Agency as a technician and slaughterman in the high containment post-mortem room at their flagship site, undertaking animal research projects of national importance. I joined ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ University in 2023 and now operate the post mortem room for commercial services and teaching our students. My dog, Spud, also lends a hand in the clinical skills facility at the university allowing students to practice dog handling skills.
Hero Nye
Senior Pathology Technician
Katy Walker
Pathology Laboratory Manager
Ella May
Senior Histology Technician
Emily Winter
Histology Technician
Biography
After gaining a BSc(Hons) in Bioveterinary Science, I worked as an Animal Technician at The Pirbright Institute for two years. I joined the VPC team in 2015, firstly as a Post-Mortem Technician, then moving onto the teaching side of the Vet School as the Senior Anatomy Technician. Using skills I gained in both areas, I decided to go back to what I enjoy most, which is working within the diagnostic service, so I joined the Histology Team in 2023.
