The Western College of Veterinary Medicine has kicked off a 9.06 million dollar renovation of its diagnostics laboratory, the final phase of a major infrastructure renewal plan that began back in 2004.

Once complete the upgrades will provide faculty, staff and students with an environment where innovations in diagnostic and clinical techniques can be developed, tested and applied.

College dean Dr. Charles Rhodes says the role of veterinarians is expanding.

Dr. Charles Rhodes-Western College of Veterinary Medicine

I think that we see the role of veterinarians changing.

We see veterinarians playing increasingly significant role in the area of public health and human health.

We see the demands for veterinary services changing and expanding.

There's increasing demand for veterinarians to serve areas like research and even private research in pharmaceutical companies and other health companies so we have to educate our students in this area.

We need to be sure that they are up to date on the latest technologies available that they can then bring then to their practices or to public practice whether it's the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or the Public Agency of Canada or provincial agencies.

We're hoping that this expansion will expand our opportunities for research training, for undergraduate training in veterinary medicine, making students aware of the latest technologies and exposing them to it on a regular basis and really addressing issues of biosafety and biosecurity within our facilities.

The renovations will bring nearly all of the college's diagnostic services into one lab.

The renovations are slated for completion in December 2010.