About Wageningen Bioveterinary Research

In 2019 we celebrate 115 years of applied veterinary research in the Netherlands! In 1904 we started as the National Serum Institute in Rotterdam. In 1959 this institute merged with the Governmental veterinary research institute (situated in Amsterdam) into the CDI, Centraal Diergeneeskundig Instituut. Via ID-DLO, ID-Lelystad, CIDC-Lelystad and infectious disease division of the Animal Sciences group, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) we ware known effectiev September 6 2016 as Wageningen Bioveterinary Research.

Highlights of this 115 years of experience are the development of the DIVA-principle to differentiate infected animals from vaccinated animals; many vaccines to control infectious animal diseases were developed and new techniques were invented; Viruses and bacteria were isolated for the first time in the Netherlands and were discovered, like the Lelystad-virus PRRS; we contributed to the eradication of animal and zoonotic diseases from the Netherlands. With numerous scientific publications Wageningen Bioveterinary Research and its forerunners contributed to the scientific world and to the society! And we will continue to do so in the future.

• History of WBVR and its predecessors

Prevention of introduction of (re)emerging animal diseases is the most effective strategy in safeguarding the livestock industry and therefor of animal and public health in the Netherlands. For this, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is involved in the following areas:

• Epidemiology and scenario development
• Risk analysis & risk management
• Strengthen the animals immune system
• Development of vaccines and diagnostics

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is the national reference institute for notifiable animal diseases in the Netherlands. For these diseases Wageningen Bioveterinary Research has an important and decisive task to determine the final diagnosis.

For the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is international reference laboratory for (together with Utrecht University) Campylobacter.

WBVR has been designated as FAO UN reference centre in the areas of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as well as Veterinary Epidemiology

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research has laboratories and animal facilities, where research can be done with infectious pathogens in a safe way for humans and animals.

The High Containment Unit is a highly secured, fully contained laboratory building (human biosafety level 3; veterinary biosafety level 4) connected to animal facilities, also suitable for large livestock. This unit is unique in the Netherlands.

• extensive laboratories
• extensive facilities for research and production
• operating facilities
• isolation units (for SPF and pathogen-free animals)
• high-containment facilities (including BSL 3 recognition) for research into extremely infectious animal diseases.
• livestock houses for metabolic and climate research

As a Contract Research Organization (CRO), Wageningen Bioveterinary Research has excellent possibilities for clinical, pre-clinical and pre-competitive (laboratory) studies according to standardised norms. We can investigate animal diseases, treatments and animal drugs, such as vaccines, in the actual animal. WBVR has specially bio-secure facilities for research with (highly) contagious pathogens in animal.

Moreover, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research has well equipped operating rooms. In combination with the biotechnical expertise we can offer a wide range of techniques for surgery, automatic administration, sampling and gathering of data.

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is commissioned by the Dutch authorities, veterinary and human pharmaceutical industry, meat and dairy industry, as well as start-up companies in biotechnology to do research. For the government, research activities consist among others of statutory tasks and other tasks related to animal health. For the private-public we carry out research related to vaccine development, diagnostics and animal health in general.

Clients are:

• local, national and international governments
• interest groups
• product boards
• business world
• industry

The background of our clients varies from biotechnology to meat and fish processing and (veterinary) pharmacy. The expertise available can be classed as very extensive - from practical to scientific and from specialist to multi-disciplinary.

Quality assurance

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research is certified according to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Furthermore, proficiency tests are ISO 17043:2010 (scope R021) accredited, laboratory analysis are ISO 17025:2017 (scope L389) accredited and there is full AAALAC accreditation for high quality animal care and- welfare for animals and employees.