Our Team Langford Vets encourages a community spirit and excellent learning opportunities.

Chris graduated in 1989 with a first-class degree in Biochemistry, which was followed by a three year Wellcome Trust PhD and a two year Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, all in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol. He moved to Bristol Veterinary School in 1995 as a Research Associate and was promoted to Research Fellow in 2001, Senior Research Fellow in 2007 and Honorary Reader in Veterinary Molecular Genetics in 2018. He was Postgraduate Director (Research) in Bristol Veterinary School between 2005-2009. In 2019 he became Diagnostic Laboratories Lead after many years of heading up the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, which he founded in 2001. The Unit uses state-of-the-art PCR assays for the detection of infectious and genetic diseases in cats and dogs. Chris took early retirement at the end of 2020 but has recently returned to the Diagnostic Laboratories in a part-time role as Genetic Assay Development Specialist and Associate Professor in Veterinary Molecular Genetics.

He has over 30 years’ molecular biology experience and has published 152 scientific papers and 145 scientific abstracts. He has successfully supervised 10 PhD students (3 won prizes for their work) and 5 postdoctoral scientists. His research interests have focused on the use of novel molecular techniques for the detection and quantification of feline infectious organisms and the detection of nucleotide polymorphisms causing feline genetic diseases.

In 2008 he was awarded the BSAVA Amoroso Award for 'Outstanding Contributions to Small Animal Studies by a Non-Clinical Member of University Staff', and in 2016 he was runner-up in the GCCF People's Awards for the 'Christina Dugdale Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Cat Fancy'. In 2014 he was lead author on a REF2014 Impact Case Study ‘Worldwide feline health is improved due to molecular research undertaken at the University of Bristol’ that was rated 4* and judged by the panel to be 'outstanding'.

After serving in the Royal Air Force as a Medical Administrator/Flight Nursing Attendant for 10 years Kay returned to education and graduated from the University of the West of England in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) Forensic Science.

Kay has been working in the biochemistry laboratory for 7 years and has enjoyed the fast-paced working environment and the challenges it provides.

Kate became a State Registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) in Virology at Public Health England, after graduating with a first in Biomedical Sciences (hons) from the University of the West of England.

She worked in a diagnostic virology lab for over 12 years before coming to Langford in 2015.

Selda graduated from the University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania in 2007 and spent the next six years in first opinion small animal practice. In 2013 she completed her PhD thesis that focused on prognostic factors of canine cutaneous mast cell tumours. Before moving to the UK in 2016, she worked for three years as an anatomical pathologist in the main commercial diagnostic laboratory in Romania. She then continued working as a clinical pathologist in the UK in a commercial laboratory. She has a special interest in cytology and haematology.

Sonia graduated from University of Leon, Spain, in 2013 moving to the UK shortly after and spending several years working in small animal general practice, including two years as locum vet. Sonia also completed two rotating internships, one at North Downs Specialists Referrals (Surrey) and the second one at the University of Cambridge. Following the completion of her postgraduate certificate in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2019 (ESAVS, University of Luxembourg), she joined us at the Diagnostic Labs in Langford. During this adventure, she completed a master's degree and a three-year residency training programme. She subsequently passed her board examinations and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2022.
Outside of work, Sonia enjoys making art, dancing, capturing the beauty of life and travels with her camera, and spending time with her friends, family and most especially her cats.

Poppy graduated in 2020 from the University of the West of England, with a MSc in Advanced Wildlife Conservation in Practice. Her studies took her to Honduras and Costa Rica, where she focused on disease spread and diagnostics in amphibians. After working six years in the hospitality sector she is now starting her career in the MDU at Langford Vets.