A FORMER student at a Wotton-under-Edge secondary school has been chosen as a 2016 Veterinary Student Scholar for his research into an inflammatory disease in cat’s eyes that can result in blindness.

Lawrence Crossfield, a Royal Veterinary College (RVC) student from Bristol and former pupil at Katharine Lady Berkeley’s school is one of only 26 students in the country to receive the scholarship.

The Veterinary Student Scholars Programme is run by the Morris Animal Foundation, a non-profit foundation based in Denver, Colorado.

It is dedicated to funding research studies to protect, treat and cure animals, and was created to provide veterinary students with hands-on experience in veterinary medical research, as well as encouraging them to consider research as a career.

Lawrence, a fifth year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine student, is undertaking his research at the RVC’s Camden campus in central London.

Lawrence’s research has already led to a collaboration with the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London (UCL).

He said: “I first began studying Veterinary Science at the RVC back in 2009 which helped me realise my interest in veterinary research.

“I returned to the RVC in 2013, following a short stint working for the RSCPA as a veterinary hospital assistant, having had my dissertation published in the Journal of Orthopaedic research.

“I am delighted to have been awarded the prestigious Veterinary Student Scholarship and plan to speak about my research at the ACVP pathology conference in New Orleans in December.”

Barbara Wolfe, chief scientific officer of Morris Animal Foundation, said: “By offering research training opportunities for veterinary students, the foundation is helping to build the next generation of scientists who will be asked to tackle some highly challenging health problems.

“These include emerging infectious diseases, environment-related illnesses, and lifestyle-related health conditions we see impacting more animals every day.

“As a profession and as individuals concerned about advancing the science of animal health, we want to do all that we can to foster a passion for research in tomorrow’s veterinarians.”