Humanimal Trust Impact Report Shows One Medicine Moving From Ambition To Action
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Humanimal Trust has launched its 2025–26 Impact Report, Turning Ambition into Action, highlighting a year of significant progress in advancing One Medicine – an approach that brings human and veterinary medicine closer together to improve health outcomes for people and animals.
The report showcases how the charity has moved from building the foundations of One Medicine to delivering tangible progress across research, education, collaboration and public engagement.
A key milestone has been the start of the pioneering Cancer Discovery Fund research project, supported by £200,000 from Humanimal Trust. Led by experts at The University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, the project is now officially underway following the appointment of a Postdoctoral Research Associate.
The research will investigate oronasal mucosal melanoma (OMM), a rare and aggressive cancer that occurs naturally in both humans and dogs. The striking similarities between the disease in the two species create a unique opportunity to advance understanding, diagnosis and treatment through shared research.
Public support for One Medicine has also continued to grow. More than 25,000 people have now signed the Humanimal Trust Pledge for One Medicine, with outreach activities, social media campaigns and the Trust’s Thought Leadership blog series helping to bring the One Medicine message to new audiences.
Humanimal Trust also strengthened its engagement with policymakers. In spring 2026, the Trust held its first Parliamentary Reception, hosted by Liberal Democrat MP and vet Dr Danny Chambers and supported by corporate partner Leucillin. The event brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, industry leaders and supporters to explore how closer collaboration between human and veterinary medicine – including the introduction of dual licensing for medicines – could accelerate innovation, reduce duplication and deliver benefits for humans, animals and the wider economy.
Humanimal Trust's professional community, the ONE Medicine Network, has continued to evolve through its move to a more user-friendly LinkedIn Group, designed to make it easier for professionals to connect, engage and collaborate.
This growing appetite for cross-disciplinary collaboration was also reflected in the charity’s One Medicine Webinar Series, which attracted almost 200 professionals and brought together experts from human and veterinary medicine to explore shared health challenges and opportunities for collaboration across traditional professional boundaries.
Dr Mary Fraser, Chair of Trustees at Humanimal Trust, said: "This year has been about turning ambition into action. We have always believed that bringing human and veterinary medicine together can unlock new opportunities for medical progress, and it is incredibly exciting to see that vision becoming a reality through our research, education and collaboration programmes."
The Trust has also continued to develop the ethical foundations for future One Medicine research. Its Public Guardian Involvement and Engagement (PGIE) work helps ensure that the voices of the public, professionals and researchers are represented in discussions around ethical clinical research involving companion animals.
Education and outreach have remained central to Humanimal Trust's work. During the year, the Trust delivered educational activities for students and professionals and, in June 2026, launched its Student Ambassador Programme, creating opportunities for medical and veterinary students to become advocates for One Medicine.
The report also celebrates the people whose generosity makes Humanimal Trust's work possible. Supporters went the extra mile for One Medicine during the year, from a 100-metre abseil at Spinnaker Tower to the Trust’s Founder, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick’s London Marathon campaign, which raised more than £19,200. The inaugural Golf Day also raised more than £8,000, highlighting the growing community of people and organisations supporting the Trust’s work.
Fi Harrison, Executive Director at Humanimal Trust, said: "The achievements highlighted in this year's report belong to the whole Humanimal Trust community. From researchers and healthcare professionals to students, fundraisers, volunteers and supporters, every person who contributes to our work is helping to build a future where collaboration between human and veterinary medicine becomes the norm.
“What matters now is building on that progress, creating more opportunities for human and veterinary medicine to share knowledge, and demonstrating the difference that collaboration can make for both people and animals.”
The 2025–26 Impact Report marks the beginning of a new strategic chapter for Humanimal Trust, with the launch of its 2026–29 strategy and a refreshed vision, purpose and values.
Dr Mary Fraser said: "There is still much to do, but the progress we have made this year gives us enormous confidence in what can be achieved. One Medicine is growing from an idea into a movement, and we are determined to help turn that movement into lasting change."
To read Humanimal Trust’s 2025–26 Impact Report, visit: www.humanimaltrust.org.uk
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