SAF student Annabel Rice. 

Meet SAF students: Annabel Rice

Sustainable Aquaculture Futures introduces an interview series with our PhD students to highlight the breadth of research and personalities within SAF. 

Today we welcome Annabel Rice (she/her) who is 3.5 years through her PhD. Annabel's research is based in SAF's topic theme Aquatic Disease.

What is your project all about?
My research involves investigating the pathogenicity of Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus (SVCV); an OIE notifiable disease that can cause mass mortality of Carp if outbreaks occur in fish farms. During my PhD, I have studied the in vitro growth and innate immune response of different SVCV isolates from different geographical origins, to learn more about SVCV pathogenesis. I also developed a novel RT-qPCR assay as a diagnostic tool for routine detection of SVCV, so that the SVCV isolates from all 4 genogroups can be detected.  

What impact does your research have within Aquatic Food Safety?
My work will help us have a better understanding of the pathogenicity of SVCV, which is currently poorly understood and provide a new sensitive and specific diagnostic tool that can be implemented for routine surveillance.  

What is the next stage of your project?
Write up my thesis and hand it in! 

Are there any project outputs or activities that you are particularly proud of, or have enjoyed most?
I am particularly proud of when I gave a talk at the European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) 19^th International conference in Porto, Portugal, to a large audience including experts in the field. This pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I found it really rewarding

Date: 20 May 2021