Our research partners and collaborators
The Donkey Sanctuary has a team of dedicated scientists and veterinarians carrying out ‘in house’ research. A very important part of our work is the publication of these studies and as such we ensure all findings are published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at relevant conferences.
All projects are co-ordinated by a projects team who carry out their own research and co-ordinate the work of collaborating scientists. The nature of research projects may be basic science, applied science, application of information technology or the advancement of education relating to donkey and mule health and welfare.
Research is only useful to donkeys and mules worldwide if the results are practically applied, as an organization we are committed to implementing change and raising awareness of donkeys and mules based upon sound scientific findings.
Find out more about the institutions we have previously collaborated with, or are currently working with.
Addis Ababa University
The college of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture at Addis Ababa University is currently accomplishing three core missions. These include teaching, problem-solving research and community services. The College promotes inter-disciplinary and problem-oriented research; thus, a number of cross-departmental, local and international collaborative research activities have been carried out in the college.
Animal Nepal
Animal Nepal is an organisation working to improve animal welfare in Nepal. Their vision is for a world where animals can live a life free from pain, suffering, and human cruelty. Animal Nepal works through carefully designed interventions, animal rescue, research, education, campaigns, and advocacy.
Austral University of Chile
The Animal Science Institute brings together and integrates the extensive experience of the Meat Science and Technology, Animal Reproduction and Zootechnics Institutes of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the Universidad Austral de Chile.
Born Free Foundation
Founded by Virginia McKenna DBE, Will Travers OBE and Bill Travers MBE in 1984, the Born Free Foundation work tirelessly to stop the exploitation and suffering of wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild. From the start, they have campaigned for a future where animals and people can coexist and where threatened and endangered species are protected for generations to come.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Theoretical and Empirical Bioethics research within BSMS focuses on a number of key areas that complement and enhance the research activity within the school, enrich the undergraduate curriculum and provide the basis for a range of outward-looking activities.
Eshet Children and Youth Development Organisation
Eshet Children and Youth Development Organisation is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with a goal of improving the opportunities for children and young people. They care about the social and economic development of the youth in Ethiopia, and believe that young people are their best hope and investing in them is an investment for the future.
NationWide Laboratories
NationWide Laboratories is a UK-based UKAS Accredited Diagnostic Testing Laboratory with sites across the country. They work in close partnership with their sister companies National Veterinary Services, who deliver their sample collection service, and VetIT, their practice management system, to offer an all-round service package, which includes bespoke software systems and logistics solutions.
Polytechnic Institute of Bragança
The School of Technology and Management of Bragança (ESTiG), created in 1990, develops its training and research/development mission in the areas of engineering and business sciences.
Popular Autonomous University of Veracruz
The Popular Autonomous University of Veracruz provides educational and training services, with the purpose of training students and graduates, who, supported by creative and critical self-education, can solve problems and needs, with a deep commitment and social sensitivity towards its environment.
Praxis Institute for Participatory Practices
Praxis is a development support organisation aiming to democratise development processes to make them more inclusive, relevant and responsive vis a vis marginalised communities. Through participatory research, capacity-building, documentation and dissemination of pro-poor research initiatives, Praxis aims to create a platform where voices of excluded groups can be heard and acted upon in the quest for equity.
San Pedro University Hospital - The Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja
The group is dedicated to the study of zoonoses, especially diseases transmitted by arthropods (ticks, fleas, lice, trombiculids, other mites, and more recently mosquitoes), from a multidisciplinary point of view.
Scotland’s Rural College – Animal & Veterinary Sciences and Animal Welfare
Scotland’s Rural College researchers already carry out strategic and applied research on global and local food security issues, and actively support the translation of research results into practice. Their research ethos is strongly collaborative, and they have a long history of industrial, NGO and academic partnerships locally and internationally
The Royal Veterinary College
The Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences (PPS) is home to academic staff with a broad spectrum of professional interests and networks with expertise encompassing production animal (also known as farm animal, food animal or livestock) medicine, animal welfare, epidemiology, economics and veterinary public health, clinical and anatomic pathology, virology, bacteriology, immunology and parasitology.
University College Dublin
The University College Dublin’s School of Veterinary Medicine - a world leader in innovative clinical training, education and ‘One Health’ research, delivering excellence aligned with societal and global challenges and the needs of veterinary professionals and veterinary scientists, and offering a student experience that is second to none.
University of Bristol
The Bristol Veterinary School’s research is focused in the areas of Animal Welfare & Behaviour, Comparative & Clinical Research and Infection & Immunity. Research ranges from fundamental to applied and is relevant to over-arching issues such as Food Security and One Health, concepts that the school’s research embraces through collaborations with scientists from other schools within the Faculties of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry and other regional institutes and organisations.
The University of Edinburgh
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies incorporates the Roslin Institute and the Global Academy for Agriculture and Food Systems, alongside a number of interdisciplinary centres and research collaborators. They aim to make a real difference to animal, environmental and human health, and their alliance with Edinburgh Medical School is summed up in the ethos One Health.
The University of Exeter
Research undertaken within the Centre for Rural Policy has long been used to inform governments, businesses and communities about how land and the environment are managed and used, as well as how policy can be better designed, appraised and evaluated. The Department of Geography aim to pursue world-class research and deliver programmes of the highest quality which tackle and examine critical global issues of the 21st century.
University of Extremadura
The University of Extremadura has more than 24,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students study at University of Extremadura, and another 8,000 students are taking doctoral courses, private degrees or continuing education. The university employs over 1,500 professors and more than 800 administrative, technical and service personnel.
University of Liverpool
The School of Veterinary Science, based in the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, has one of the widest-ranging veterinary research programmes in the UK. Their research involves cross-disciplinary collaborations between researchers based within the School of Veterinary Science and other scientists including biologists, epidemiologists, mathematicians, health economists and social scientists.
University of Milan
From the Lodi centre with its hospital and experimental zootechnical unit, to agricultural and food companies and research laboratories, the University of Milan makes available to students and citizens its skills and knowledge, as well as its enchanting botanical gardens.
University of Portsmouth
The team at The School of Psychology, Sport, and Health Sciences delve into the intricate workings of psychology, health, physiology, sport science, and sport performance while also focusing on the development and management of sport and the significance it has in society.
While the team at The School of the Environment and Life Sciences cover all aspects of biological and environmental science, from developmental biology and epigenetics, molecular biophysics, marine biology and applied environmental research, to palaeontology, geology, geotechnical engineering and geography.
University of Reading
The School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at The University of Reading has expertise spanning agriculture, animal science, international development, environmental management, food marketing and consumer behaviour. Their research expertise is woven into their teaching, providing students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their chosen career or further study.
University of Sussex
One of the most academically diverse and influential communities of psychologists in the United Kingdom, with strengths across biological, cognitive, developmental, clinical, and social psychology. With a team of 70+ academics, they are one of the largest research-intensive psychology Schools in the UK.
University of Balearic Islands
The UIB is a cutting-edge university for teaching and research. It has deep roots in the region and is committed to society, sowing values that honour humanity with an ever-increasing international calling. The Applied and Conservation Zoology group specialise in research relating to applied entomology, parasitology and invasive fauna and fauna in islands.
Utrecht University
The primary duties of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are teaching, research, and patient care. They perform fundamental and strategic research focused on the health, disease and welfare of animals and on related public and environmental health aspects. The three main research themes are: One Health, One Medicine and Veterinary Biomedicine.
Zaragoza University
The department of Animal Pathology at Zaragoza University comes under the Veterinary faculty which is one of the most prestigious faculties in Spain with over 220 professors and researchers.
Also of interest
We collaborate with scientists working across a broad range of disciplines to further our understanding of donkeys and their hybrids.
Our pathology laboratory is responsible for all diagnostic work on our own donkeys, gives advice and support to other professionals, and accepts samples from donkeys and mules across the UK.