Brian Catchpole

Brian Catchpole is a Professor of Companion Animal Immunology at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), part of the Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences. His research focuses on canine immunology, immunogenetics, and endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and Addison’s disease. He investigates genetic susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases and vaccine responses, particularly in relation to aging and breed-specific traits.

Dr. Catchpole graduated from the RVC in 1992, completed a PhD in immunology at King’s College London, and held roles from Lecturer (2001) to Senior Lecturer (2006) before becoming a Professor in 2014. He is the Teaching Coordinator for his department and Director of Assessment (pre-clinical and postgraduate). His teaching includes immunology components for veterinary medicine and bioveterinary sciences.

His research projects include epidemiological studies on canine leptospirosis, development of diagnostic tools for Addison’s disease, and genetic analyses of vaccine responses. Collaborative projects involve organizations like BBSRC and MSD to improve diagnostics and understand disease patterns.

• Key Research Areas: Canine immune responses, autoimmune disorders, genetic susceptibility, endocrine diseases, vaccine efficacy, and aging immunology
• Current Projects: Leptospirosis epidemiology in UK dogs, Addison’s disease autoantibody studies, and canine diabetes genetics

Dr. Catchpole leads multiple research groups and contributes to interdisciplinary efforts in comparative medicine and immunogenetics. His work bridges clinical practice and research to advance veterinary healthcare.