Debbie Archer

Professor Debbie Archer serves as Professor of Equine Surgery and Head of Veterinary Research at the University of Liverpool, holding dual specialization as a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) and European Board of Veterinary Specialists (EBVS) in Equine Surgery. Her leadership extends to Chair of the Veterinary Schools Council Research Committee, Board membership at Equine Veterinary Journal Ltd, and trustee roles with The Horse Trust.

Her research program bridges veterinary clinical practice and population health, focusing on equine surgery outcomes, vector-borne disease ecology, and microbiome-intestinal health relationships. She pioneered the International Colic Surgery Registry (INCISE) with global collaborators and leads the CHARIOT lidocaine trial, driving evidence-based advances in colic management. Her work consistently integrates One Health principles across human, animal, and environmental domains.

Key honors include:

• Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS, 2017)
• Clinical Evidence Literary Award (BEVA, 2008)
• Finlay Kerr undergraduate surgery prize (Glasgow, 1996)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Professor Archer actively mentors students through clinical rotations at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital and supervises research projects spanning antimicrobial stewardship, colic surgery audits, and vector ecology. Current funding includes the Arden and Claudia Sims grant for small intestinal strangulating lipoma research (2021-2026) and The Horse Trust project on arbovirus threats. Her educational innovations include the LASSIE surgical skills resource and annual student research showcase.

The International Colic Surgery Registry (INCISE) forms the cornerstone of her collaborative research network, while her clinical leadership at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital drives translational applications of evidence-based medicine. Her Olympic Games veterinary emergency clinic experience underscores operational excellence in high-stakes environments.