2010 Research Opportunities
Project Title
Drugs absorption in koalas
Project Summary
Dose rates and dosing frequencies of therapeutic agents have not been scientifically established for koalas and those being used have been extrapolated from dog and cat doses. However our preliminary studies show that oral dose rates in particular, fail to reach therapeutic concentrations in the blood and have minimal therapeutic effect and that the quantity of the drug metabolites may differ to those of other animals. Absorption of drugs by koalas by the gut may be reduced due to eucalypt ingesta, gut wall factors, increased rate of liver metabolism or all of these factors and exploring these factors is the basis of the project.
Further information
Dr Merran Govendir
Ph:+61 2 9351 5442
Email: M.Govendir@vetc.usyd.edu.au
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Project Title
Computational Biology
Project Summary
Our laboratory has a strong commitment to the improvement of genomic resources for domestic animals and Australian wildlife. We have openings in projects involved in the optimal use of cDNA sequencing to enable greater genome assembly contiguity. We are also using transcriptome analysis to inform the control of invasive mammalian species in Australia.
Further Information
Professor Claire Wade
Ph+61 2 9351 8097
Email:
Project Title
Medical Genetics
Project Summary
We have ongoing collaborations with international research teams working on Degenerative Myelopathy in the dog, and dog aggression. We are interested in exploring the use of gene mapping in the dog to inform human behavioural disorders. Our collaborations with the feline clinic include mapping genes for disorders including amyloidosis, coagualopathies, and skeletal problems in the cat.
Further Information
Professor Claire Wade
Ph+61 2 9351 8097
Email:
Project Title
Behavioural Genetics
Project Summary
We are interested particularly in behavioural studies in the dog and horse. In collaboration with the McGreevy laboratory, we are studying anxiety disorders in the dog, dangerous dogs, will to win in animal athletes, weaving and laterality (hoofedness) in the horse. We have ongoing international collaborations looking at Crib biting in the horse. There is also the potential for a project relating to the analysis of dog breed standards and dog breeding practices in Australia and a quantification of genetic disease frequency among mixed breed dogs.
Further Information
Professor Claire Wade
Ph+61 2 9351 8097
Email:
Project Title
Placement supervisors’ experiences of teaching final year veterinary students
Project Summary
This project uses student learning research to investigate placement supervisors’ experiences of teaching final year veterinary students.
Further Information
Associate Professor Rosanne Taylor
Ph+61 2 9351 2703
Email:
Dr Susan Matthew
Ph+61 2 9351 8760
Email:
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Project Title
Respiratory disease and biomarkers in the foal
Project Summary
This project will investigate the role of oxidative stress in foal health, through the measurement of respiratory and systemic oxidative stress biomarkers and relating these findings to clinical and microbiological data.
Further information
Dr Gary Muscatello
Ph+61 2 9114 0790
E-mail:
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Project Title
Investigation of the development of the immune system of brushtail possum pouch young
Project Summary
This project aims to characterise chronologically the development of brushtail possum pouch young tissues to determine the ages at which different lymphoid tissues gain mature structure and are populated by T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and plasma cells
Further information
Dr Susan Hemsley
Ph+61 2 9351 3242
Email:
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Project Title
Integrative genomics analysis of mammary gland function in animal models
Project Summary
Examines the physiological systems that determine mammary gland development and function using comparative genomic approaches, including integration of genetic and gene expression microarray data.
Further information
Dr Peter Williamson
Ph +61 2 9351 3653
Email:
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Project Title
Canine molecular physiology and genomic studies in health and disease
Project Summary
Examines the molecular basis of specific immunological and pathophysiological mechanisms in dogs using combinations of cellular, molecular, immunohistochemistry, and functional genomics methodologies
Further information
Dr Peter Williamson
Ph +61 2 9351 3653
Email:
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Project Title
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from horses
Project Summary
This project will investigate the most common types of bacteria that cause disease in horses in Australia, the antimicrobial drug susceptibility patterns of these bacteria and explore any evidence for the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria of equine origin.
Further Information
Dr Tony D. Mogg
Ph+61 2 4655-0777
Email: T.D.Mogg@camden.usyd.edu.au
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Project Title
Aspects of canine toxicology learning liquid chromatography techniques
Project Summary
A research project is available for a veterinary science graduate or animal scientist to embark on a PhD or research Master’s degree concerned with investigating the most commonly ingested toxins in dogs, how each toxin is diagnosed, determining the morbidity and mortality rates and then developing a liquid chromatography procedure to diagnose some of these toxins in canine serum and urine. Presently there is little knowledge of the actual incidence of intoxication of dogs, the most common types of toxins and there are very few diagnostic tests to identify canine ingested toxins.
Further information
Dr Merran Govendir
Ph:+61 2 9351 5442
Email: M.Govendir@vetc.usyd.edu.au
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Project Title
Investigation of hookworm infection in the Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea
Project Summary
This project will investigate the prevalence of hookworm infection in Australian sea lion populations and determine the role of hookworm in disease and subsequent mortality in Australian sea lion pups.
Further Information
Dr Rachel Gray
Ph:+61 2 9351 2643
Email: r.gray@usyd.edu.au
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