The main element of our research strategy is to contribute to an integrated management of animal health, respectful of animal welfare and the environment. Within Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, ENVT benefits from a reinforced associate status.

Research at ENVT is part of a strong and complementary partnership approach, mainly with institutional partners (Inrae, Inserm, CIRAD, UT3 Paul Sabatier, CNRS and the University hospital).

Research activities are developed within 14 research/service or technological units.

 

Key figures

74
ENVT research scientists
120
Rank A publications / year
14
Research units
20
PhD supervised / year

Research themes

Our research activities provide knowledge in the agro-veterinary and biomedical fields, within a continuum that goes from animal health to human health.

Understanding diseases for integrated health management

Our environment in the broadest sense, including pathogens, toxins, and husbandry, can lead to an imbalance in homeostasis, inducing pathologies, which have repercussions on the health and welfare of animals and the performance of herds. These interactions between the environment and the host (microbiota, defense mechanisms, genetics…) are studied at different scales of the living organism, with a continuum from the molecular level to the cellular level, the whole animal, the population at herd and territory levels.

All of our research aims to contribute to :

  • the control of animal diseases;
  • the protection of public health, in particular in the fields of food safety and zoonoses;
  • the sustainability of livestock farming and the preservation of the environment, in particular through a rational use of medicinal and chemical inputs.

The main thematic areas

  • Infectious diseases and animal health management

Knowledge of pathogens aims to better understand the conditions of evolution and emergence, the mechanisms of virulence, of adaptation to the animal host, and of resistance to anti-infectious and anti-parasitic agents. This thematic axis gathers research on different pathogens representing a danger for animals and/or humans, in particular viruses with respiratory tropism (Influenza, Coronavirus) of avian and ruminant species, bacteria (ruminant mycoplasma, E. coli), prions, internal parasites (nematodes, Besnoitia) and external parasites (insects).

At the animal level, a better knowledge of the pathogenesis of infectious diseases (virulence factors, immune or inflammatory mechanisms) allows the identification and evaluation of new diagnostic or control tools (vaccination). At the population level, the purpouse of the knowledge produced is to better understand the transmission cycles, with the aim of predicting and controlling emergences and defining preventative action levers.

Research on antibiotic and insecticide/antiparasitic resistance aims at developing effective, economical and innovative antibiotic and antiparasitic infection control strategies.

Our units involved sont IHAP and InTheRes, IRSD, InFinity, Neocare et ASTRE

  • Therapeutic innovation and health management in livestock

Our units involved are  IHAP and InTheRes, IRSD et ASTRE

  • Health management and precision connected medicine

New methods of intervention in veterinary medicine are being developed to detect early and accurately alterations in health and/or production. They are built by individualized approaches carried out at the individual or population level (precision medicine). The objectives are to improve decision-making support on aspects of diagnosis and control (individualized therapy), at different scales (pathogens, animals, animal populations).

Our units involved are IHAP and InTheRes, IRSD and ASTRE

  • Improving animal robustness and resilience of farming systems

Genetic/chromosomal determinants of disease or animal robustness, in combination with dietary factors, are essential levers for understanding diseases and controlling health. In particular, the knowledge of commensal or pathogenic microbial communities (microbiomes or pathobiomes) allows to optimize commensal ecosystems, especially digestive ones, and to identify control levers (rational use of medicinal inputs, probiotics, …). Research on resistance to antibiotics, insecticides and antiparasitics aims to develop innovative infection control strategies that are economical in terms of antibiotics and antiparasitics and that preserve non-target bacterial ecosystems.

The identification of practical barriers and levers of animal disease control measures in relation to human management of livestock is essential to identify the economic impact of diseases and prevention measures, in order to inform decisions.

  • Food contaminants and impact on the health

The research conducted aims to better understand the effects on human or animal health of chronic exposure to natural or industrial food contaminants (mycotoxins, pesticides, packaging migrates, perfluorinated agents…) at low dose, possibly in the form of mixtures and during critical phases of development (perinatal). The topics covered include what these toxins become once in the body, the characterization of the dangers associated with their consumption (metabolic and endocrine diseases,..) and their mechanisms of action on the body.

Translational research of veterinary interest

Translational research activities are conducted in neonatology of carnivores (Neocare) and in partnership with Inserm, in regenerative medicine (mesenchymal stem cells) (Restore), in neuroimaging (ToNIC), in dermatology and immunology (InFinity) and on chronic diseases (inflammation (IRSD) and cancer (CRCT).
In addition, the use of animals (especially laboratory animals) as models for humans requires their phenotypic characterization through the establishment of reference intervals (CREFRE).

A research axis Health throughout life for domestic carnivores is currently being structured. The setting up of the Inspire cohort of dogs, in parallel with a human and murine cohort in partnership with Inserm (Restore) will make it possible to understand the mechanisms involved in aging or associated with early metabolic wear and tear. It is a real opportunity to build a bio bank to address different clinical questions related to the health path of carnivores (Clinical Research).

Clinical research

Read more on Clinical research.

Responsible and ethical research

All our experimental protocols are submitted to an independent ethics committee for advice. ENVT attaches great importance to the protection of personal data that it may collect and process in accordance with the applicable regulations, in particular the European Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (RGPD) and the amended French Data Protection Act of 6 January 1978. ENVT is committed to promoting responsible and ethical conduct in research :

Research close to the field, serving communities and public policies

Our research aims to produce fundamental and applied knowledge. It relies on multidisciplinary skills and on our lecturers’good knowledge of field work , which allows :

  • a balanced continuum between fundamental and applied knowledge, an integrated management of animal health, the optimization of decision-making processes, for the benefit of farmers or collective and public policies;
  • A strong reactivity of our teams, especially during emerging diseases, as demonstrated during past health crises (Avian Influenza, coronavirus…).

 

In the field of animal sciences, ENVT actively transfers the knowledge acquired to professionals, companies and society through its consulting and expertise activities.

Discover our activities in videos