John D. Collins (1938 - 2012)

Professor John Daniel Collins (Dan) was Professor Emeritus of Farm Animal Clinical Studies in the School of Veterinary Medicine, the first Director of the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, and a former Chair of the Centre for Food Safety.

Dan championed food safety and played a major role in the establishment of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, serving on its management board for many years. His knowledge and skills were recognised internationally, so much so that he was appointed as Chair of the Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) of the European Food Safety Authority. At the Panel’s inaugural meeting, when elected Chair, Dan set the tone by stating: 'We are here to help and to serve the trust placed in us by the citizens of Europe.' The BIOHAZ panel continues to make a significant contribution to EFSA’s risk communication by providing scientific advice on biological hazards relating to food safety and food-borne diseases.

Dan advised successive Ministers of Agriculture on aspects of food safety and animal health. He was a foundation diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health, and a past-president of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine.

Dan, a proud native of Waterford, graduated from UCD with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine in 1961. He was awarded a Masters of Veterinary Medicine by NUI on aspects of salmonella infection, a Masters of Science in Comparative Pathology by UC Davis for investigating bactericidal activity, and a PhD by NUI for studying anaemias of cattle. In UCD, he was the recipient of the Mettam Memorial Medal and the Kehoe Memorial Medal and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Irish Veterinary Association.

Dan passed away in 2012, leaving behind a family immensely proud of his legacy and achievements.