Rate My Professor Chris Proudman

Professor Chris Proudman is Professor of Veterinary Clinical Science in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, at the University of Surrey. He graduated from Cambridge University Veterinary School with a VetMB in 1988 and earned an MA from the University of Cambridge in 1986. In 1996, he was awarded a PhD in Equine Epidemiology from the University of Liverpool. Additional qualifications include Cert EO from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994 and the RCVS Diploma of Fellowship in Equine Gastroenterology in 1995. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS). His early career involved clinical practice as an equine surgeon, teaching equine medicine and surgery, and research on equine intestinal diseases at the University of Liverpool. He conducted veterinary work on racecourses in Northwest England, served as Veterinary Advisor to Aintree Racecourse since 1998, and was a member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board's veterinary advisory committee. In 2013, Proudman joined the University of Surrey as Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine, leading its development and accreditation until 2023. Since 2023, he has concentrated on research leadership.

Proudman's research focuses on equine gastrointestinal health, including intestinal parasite infections, post-operative survival following colic surgery, and the intestinal microbiome's role in gut health through metabolomic and metagenomic analyses. He leads the Horse Microbiome Research Group, examining microbial communities' effects on health, welfare, and athletic performance, with emphasis on early-life gut microbiomes in foals and their links to disease risk and racing outcomes. Notable publications include 'Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing' (Scientific Reports, 2024), 'Metagenomic investigation of the equine faecal microbiome reveals extensive taxonomic diversity' (PeerJ, 2022), and early work such as 'Are tapeworms associated with equine colic? A case control study' (Equine Veterinary Journal, 1993), which established tapeworms as a significant colic risk factor. He provides horse welfare consultancy to The Jockey Club and contributes to population-based studies and in vitro equine gut models. His findings have advanced strategies for microbiome management and antimicrobial use in equines.