Sydney School of Veterinary Science Annual Research Report 2024

Sydney School of Veterinary Science

Professor Jacqueline Norris Head of School and Dean

I am very proud to present the 2024 Annual Research Report for the Sydney School of Veterinary Science (SSVS)at the University of Sydney It highlightsthe depth and breadth of the work we do Thisyear we have highlighted the work of two of our outstandingSSVSPostdoctoral Research Fellows Dr Carola Venturini, whose work advancesour knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and itstreatments, and Dr Valentina Mella who isexploringthe relationship between the health of koalasand environmental factorssuch asheat stress and water availability

Research isso strongly interwoven into the fabric of our school and hasbeen for over 114 years It guidesthe way in which we prepare our studentsfor the many careersin veterinary science; it underpinsour care for the health and welfare of animals, humansand communitiesglobally; and it isdriven by apassion to improve and protect the world in which we live. Thisresearch would not be possible without the generosity of philanthropic contributionsfrom donorsand the foundationsand fundingbodiesthat support thisresearch

Cover of theSSVSResearchReport 2024: Awordcloudconstructedfromtitlesofthefirst100 Research& EnquirypublicationsbyDVMstudentsandstaff. Forfulldetailsseehttps://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13334.

WerecogniseandpayrespecttotheEldersandcommunities?pastandpresent?ofthelandsthattheUniversity ofSydney'scampusesstandon.Forthousandsofyearstheyhavesharedandexchangedknowledgesacross innumerablegenerationsforthebenefitofall.

Professor Jan ?lapeta

Associate Head of Research

Research standsasan indispensable pillar within the veterinary practice What appearsasthe optimal approach today may undergo transformation tomorrow, the illusive statusquo continually shiftsin response to emerginginsights. Our research mission isto lead in safeguardingthe wellbeingof every creature under our stewardship, whether they be our companions, farm animalsor wildlife Our pursuit of discovery, highlighted in this year'sreport, isour evidence of the School's commitment to the advancement of veterinary science

Dr Anne Quain

Senior

Thisreport providesinsightsinto some, but by no meansall, recent research from the SSVS It has been wonderful divinginto the breadth and depth of research within the School, all of which hasthe scope to improve the wellbeingof so many kindsof animalsand the humanswho depend upon them

Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate

Associate Head of Research Education

Congratulationsto all our amazingresearchersfor another year of incredible achievements. This report showcasesthe ground-breakingwork of our staff and Higher Degree by Research candidatesacrossthe diverse areasof expertise that makesworkingin SSVSso inspiring

Acornerstone of our philosophy in SSVSis mentoringand trainingthe next generation of scientistswho will continue to push the boundariesof their respective fields. Thisreport demonstratesthe confidence we can all place in our future leaders

Research publications

SydneySchoolofVeterinaryScience

With 1,098 publicationsreleased from 2019-20231 , our interdisciplinary research empowersusto effectively addresschallengesthat veterinariansface around the world.

Our publications over 5 years We prioritise Open Accesspublishingto enhance the dissemination of research findings

Our commitment is evident in the increase from 43% to 78% of our publications being Open Access by 20231 Thisdemonstratesour dedication to the research community and stakeholders With our broad expertise, our publicationsare globally recognised, collectively cited over 10,000 times They serve asa reliable resource for both the scientific community and society, contributingto the continuous advancement of veterinary knowledge.

1Data retrieved (April 2024)from Scopussearch resultsfor publicationsaffiliated with SydneySchool of Veterinary Science Open Accessrepresentsaggregate of "Gold" and "Gold-hybrid" publications- https:// www scopuscom All articlesincluded in the background of thispage are referenced throughout thisreport

"Anexpert isapersonwho hasmadeall themistakes that canbemadeinavery narrowfield."

?NeilsBohr

"It significantlyimprovedmy critical thinkingandanalytical skills,aswell asbeingavery enjoyableexperience.The opportunitytoundertake researchinanyfieldofinterest wasfantastic."

? Research& Enquirystudent

Capacity buildingand education

Enablingopportunitiesthatenhancefutureveterinarians

At the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, we are proud of our studentsand the connectionsfostered through our Research &Enquiry stream for both studentsand staff. Research and enquiry are fundamental componentsof veterinary education. We understand that practicingwith evidence-based methodsisessential for membersof our profession.

The Research and Enquiry (R&E)stream isan integral part of the University of Sydney Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)degree program

Studentswork with an academic advisor who providesguidance in developingand achieving meaningful educational and professional goals

The R&Emission statement is- veterinarians recognise that the evidence- based approach to practice, which isbased on the scientific method, leadsto the generation of new knowledge that underpinsthe veterinary medical profession.

Ten yearsand seven DVMcohortson, we have reached a milestone to celebrate ? 100 publicationsauthored by DVMstudentsand derived directly from their ?professionally focused project? This is an authentic publishing experience To stay up to date with our DVMstudents' discoveries, accessour dedicated Google Scholar page or use the QR code below

At least three quartersof studentsagreed that R&Esupported their autonomy, responsibility and accountability 'extremely' or 'very' well. It providesthem with asense of connection and

an opportunity to ?think outside the box?and learn to deal with unexpected outcomesin a safe environment

The coordinatorsof the R&E - Professor Michael Ward & Professor Jan ?lapeta elaborate on the need for thisprogram:

"If veterinary science isto remain relevant outside of veterinary clinical practice, the training of veterinary students must be multifaceted and support enquiry."

Our studentsare the only school globally that hashad a winner in each year of the RCVS VeterinaryEvidence Student Awards? Lesca Sofyan (3rd place in 2020), Erina Leask (2nd place 2021), Sarah Daphne Foo (1st place in 2022)and Rachel Garrett (2nd place in 2023)

"The R&E project allowsour DVM students to immerse themselvesin an area of veterinary science for which they have passion, they love that!"concludes Professor Ward

Professor Michael Ward

Chair of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Professor Jan ?lapeta

Veterinary and Molecular Parasitology

?lapeta, J , Ward, MP (2024) Embeddingresearch and enquiry in Australian DVMcurriculum AustralianVeterinaryJournal, 102(6):324-328 https://doi org/ 10 1111/avj 13334

Genetics, genomicsand zoology

Unveilinganewtooltotackleanimalinheriteddisorders

With growingawarenessand concern about animal inherited disorders, we empower veterinariansto report on and research on suspected inherited disorders, offer guidance on available tests, and provide crucial surveillance data Thisincludesleveraginga freely-available online catalogue of inherited disordershosted by the University of Sydney

When animal ownersand breedersdiscover their animalsare sufferingfrom inherited diseases, they are often left feelingdevastated They dedicate hoursto researching, only to be met with frustration about the lack of helpful information

The Anstee Hub for Inherited Diseasesof Animals(AHIDA)removesthisfrustration from the equation AHIDAoffershope for owners, breeders, and veterinariansalike. Associate Professor Imke Tammen, the leader of the AHIDAteam, passionately explains-

"What wasreally lacking wasa site where people can report suspected inherited diseasesin Australian animals and one which then summarisessuch information. No site with that kind of information previously existed."

AHIDAfacilitatesthe identification of underlying genetic mutationsresponsible for inherited conditions Thiscollaboration enables researchersto develop effective management strategies, ultimately safeguardinganimal

welfare and genetic health AHIDA'sfocuson Australian animalsand itsrole in facilitatingthe reportingand investigation of suspected inherited diseasesmake it avaluable addition to the existingresourcesdeveloped within the School These include the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals(OMIA)database, which is "recognised as a key resource for standardised information, particularly on variantsof genetic conditions."

The launch of AHIDAby the Sydney School of Veterinary Science representsasignificant step forward in understandingand managing inherited diseasesin Australian animals Leveragingthe expertise of researchers, the insightsof veterinariansand the experience of animal ownersand breeders, AHIDAdrives advancementsin animal health and welfare

The portal isnow free and accessible to everyone everywhere around the world AHIDA bridgesa critical gap by providingavital link between "veterinarians, animal ownersand breeders to researchersinvestigating emerging inherited diseases."

The Anstee Hub for Inherited Diseasesof Animals(AHIDA)isnamed in honour of the late Ronald Bruce Anstee, whose generousbequest supportsthe hub'sresearch on genetic and inherited animal diseasesand the improvement of animal welfare from 2021-2026

Associate Professor Imke Tammen Animal Biotechnology

AHIDA: Anstee Hub for Inherited Diseasesin Animals- https://ahidasydneyedu au Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals(OMIA)- https://omiaorg

Infectiousdisease and biosecurity

Treatinganinvariablyfataldisease

Our team of clinicians, pharmacologistsand infectiousdisease researchersare improving antiviral therapy in catswith unprecedented success TacklingFeline Infectious Peritonitis(FIP)with injectable remdesivir and/or oral GS-441524 offersflexible and effective treatment for FIP. Through regular monitoringand optimised dosage regimen, thisonce invariably unbeatable disease can be cured

Feline InfectiousPeritonitis(FIP), caused by a feline coronavirus, haslongbeen adeath sentence for cats, causingsevere inflammation and organ damage With 50% of casesoccurring in catsunder three years, FIPclaimsthe livesof thousandsof catsannually in Australia alone Groundbreakingresearch led by the team at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney (Dr Sally Coggins, Professor Richard Malik, Professor Jacqueline Norris, Associate Professor Mary Thompson, Professor Merran Govendir, Dr Benjamin Kimble)isofferinghope for affected cats

Professor Norris and colleagueshave meticulously studied FIPover 20 years, refining diagnostic testsand epidemiology. New clinical trials, conducted by Dr Coggins, yielded unprecedented results

The treatment involves12weeksof remdesivir/ GS-441524, and sometimes molnupiravir, Paxlovid or mefloquine. Australian veterinariansfrequently seek therapeutic guidance from the team In Australia, we have had legal accessto effective drugssince 2020, but not all countrieshave had these treatments available The greatest contribution of the group hasbeen through acollaboration with BOVA compounding, which hasresulted in effective

Professor Jacqueline Norris

Veterinary Microbiology

Dr Sally Coggins

Veterinarian

Professor Merran Govendir

Veterinary Pharmacology

drugsbecominglegally available first in Australia, then the UK, and subsequently in Canadaand most recently the USA Unfortunately, some countries, principally in Europe, still do not have ready access, but the datawe are generatingishelpingto overcome thishurdle The availability of a reliable product circumventsproblemsencountered in uneven quality of black market drugswhich cat ownerswere forced to rely on in the past

"We've

gone from zero cats surviving to now up to asmany as 96% surviving. That'sa game changer and Dr Cogginshasbeen asked to present thiswork at international forumsand networking with the major FIP research centresglobally."

The team continuesto investigate waysto optimise treatment, risk factorsfor development of FIP includinggenetics, optimisingdiagnostic tests, and studyingnew treatmentsto ensure options continue to be available for cats. Thisseminal research hasignited hope worldwide, and asthe treatment becomesmore widely available, countlessfeline liveswill be saved.

Associate Professor Mary Thompson Specialist &Head of Small Animal Medicine

Professor Richard Malik

Valentine Charlton Consultant

Dr Benjamin Kimble

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Coggins, SJ , Norris, J M, Malik, R, Govendir, M, Hall, EJ , Kimble, B, Thompson, MF (2023) Outcomesof treatment of catswith feline infectiousperitonitisusing parenterally administered remdesivir, with or without transition to orally administered GS-441524 Journal of Internal VeterinaryMedicine, 37(5):1772-1783 https://doi org/ 10 1111/ jvim 16803

Dr Carola Venturini Microbiology

Dr Carola Venturini, one of our SSVSPostdoctoral Research Fellows, specialisesin antimicrobial resistance and innovative solutionsfor bacterial infections Dr Venturini emphasisesthat her affiliation with the SSVSgrantsher accessto "unique microbial collectionsand clinical settings asa source of target bacterial speciesthat have been invaluable in progressing research on novel antibacterials."

Reflectingon her experience, Dr Venturini notes, "the collegial environment at the SSVShas been the most supportive I have ever experienced in my career."

Dr Venturini highlightsthe emphasison creatingcollaborationswithin the School, which has facilitated "very productive professional relationshipsthat have already led to funding successaswell assuccessful co- supervision and mentoring of students, and joint publications." Furthermore, Dr Venturini valueshow thisculture extendsbeyond the School to the University at large, strengtheningher workingrelationshipswith membersof other disciplines and institutes

SSVS Post doct or al Resear ch Fel l ow

SSVS Post doct or al Resear ch Fel l ow

Dr Valentina Mella

Animal Behaviour and Conservation

SSVSPostdoctoral Research Fellow Dr ValentinaMella hasuncovered compellingevidence that koalasactively drink water duringextreme weather events. Reflectingon her findings, Dr Mella explained, ?My current focuslieson understandingthe relationship between the health of koalasand environmental factorssuch as heat stressand water availability ?

Her research seamlessly incorporateswildlife health, animal management, and conservation. ?My postdoctoral position empowersme to conduct impactful science by delving into my research inquiriesacrossvariousdisciplines, including wildlife medicine, veterinary pathology, animal physiology, animal behaviour, wildlife management, and conservation,? she clarifies

Through her interdisciplinary approach, Dr Mella aimsto research the intricaciesof climate change?simpactson vulnerable wildlife populations. She elaborates, ?Through this multidisciplinary problem- solving, my research endeavoursto investigate the impacts of climate change on threatened wildlife populations, translating research resultsinto practical intervention tools.?

"Aveterinarian?sjob

oftenbeginswherethat ofadoctorends." ?

Anonymous

Evidence-based clinical practice

Focusedoncapacitybuildingandprevention

Our researchersare improvingveterinary clinical medicine. With a focuson enhancing expertise in clinical medicine, we are drivingeffortsto enable the development of vaccinesfor emergingdiseasesin small animals Thisincludessurveillance and collaborative initiativesto stay ahead in understandingand combatingevolvinghealth threatsin veterinary medicine

In 2019, Sydney experienced asurge in canine leptospirosiscases Leptosporosisisa contagiousdisease causingacute kidney failure that can be deadly to dogsand ispotentially zoonotic (can be spread to people) As veterinarianssought assistance for their patients, Dr Christine Griebsch and Dr Nicolle Kirkwood, clinical researchersat the University of Sydney TeachingHospital, quickly stepped in to help With a40% fatality rate once diagnosed, Dr Griebsch led the investigation of the outbreak to save the livesof affected dogsand enable preventative measuresto be implemented

Dr Griebsch'sinitiativeshave not only raised awarenessabout the disease but have led to identification of the most common strains(or serovars)causingthisdisease in dogsin New South Wales. The Australian dogvaccine containsthe serovar ?Copenhageni? , but the serovar ?Australis?hasemerged asthe most common cause of disease in dogsin New South Walesand isresponsible for the most recent outbreak

Dr Griebsch adds?infection can happen through direct or indirect contact with infected urine from rats, for example through drinking from contaminated water puddlesor by catchingor eating rats?

Dr Griebsch'sand Dr Kirkwood'srecent publication wasvoted the ?Most Commendable Paper published inthe Australian Veterinary Journal, 2023"by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists

Veterinariansand dogownersneed to take swift action when suspicioussignsare seen, Dr Griebsch advises?the earlier we test and treat for leptospirosis the better the outcome isfor the dog?.

Asleptospirosiscontinuesto pose a serious threat to both canine and human health, the importance of the disease cannot be overstated Dr Kirkwood concludesthat ?we have been able to determine that vaccines with other serovarsneed to be developed for use in Australia ?

"Thisdiscovery hasprompted pharmaceutical companiesto

investigate the potential to manufacture new vaccinesfor dogs."

Dr Griebsch and Dr Kirkwood are hopeful that thisresearch will prevent casesof leptospirosis in the future, and facilitate better outcomesfor dogsthat do become infected

Dr Christine Griebsch

Senior Lecturer &Specialist in Small Animal Medicine

Dr Nicolle Kirkwood

Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Primary Care

Griebsch, G, Kirkwood, N, Ward, MP, So, W, Weerakoon,L , Donahoe, S, Norris, J M (2022) Emergingleptospirosisin urban Sydney dogs: a case series(2017?2020) AustralianVeterinaryJournal, 100(5):190-200 https://doi org/ 10 1111/avj 13148

Infectiousdiseasesand biosecurity

Biosecurityandepidemiology

Major disease outbreaksare an increasingthreat to the wellbeingof people, animalsand our planet Researchersin biosecurity and epidemiology at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science are at the forefront of developingprevention and control measures for many of the diseasesthat are important globally, aswell asin our region.

Japanese EncephalitisVirus(JEV)isa

mosquito-borne virusfound mainly in water birdsand pigs It isthe leadingcause of encephalitisin people in Asia and the Pacific, with 70,000-100,000 casesannually, mostly in children The fatality rate in people ishigh, and even those who survive often have devastating side-effectssuch including?locked in syndrome? when the person iscompletely paralysed but cognitively aware

In 2022, an outbreak wasdetected in people and on piggeriesacrosssoutheastern Australia Over 40 people were sick, leadingto 7deaths. The viruscaused huge lossesin over 80 commercial piggeries

SSVSepidemiologist Dr Victoria Brookes and her collaboratorshave been collecting mosquitoesand data about casesfor JEV research in India, the Philippinesand Australia

"We've found that JEV immunity in pigsis short- lived," says Dr Brookes "Thisis important because it helpsusunderstand the risksposed by proximity to pigs".

They've also identified featuresthat increase the risk of an outbreak occurring. In the Australian outbreak, piggeriesnear temporary wetlands and flooded areaswere at greater risk than those near permanent wetlands. The number of waterbird speciesin the areaalso needed to be just right ? too few or too many, and the risk was lower.

Dr Victoria Brookes Senior Lecturer Epidemiology and One Health

Together with PhDstudents, Dr Brookes has been screeningmosquitoesto identify mosquitoes?feedingpreferencesand developingmodelsof JEVspread

"Our JEV modelswill be used to test surveillance and response strategies, ultimately reducing the impact on both pigsand people."

Walsh, MG, Webb, C , Brookes, VJ (2023) An evaluation of the landscape structure and La Ninaclimatic anomaliesassociated with Japanese encephalitisvirus outbreaksreported in Australian piggeriesin 2022 One Health, 16:100566 https://doi org/ 10 1016/ j onehlt 2023 100566

Dhanze, H, Singh, BB, Walsh, M, Kumar, MS, Kumar, A, Bhilegaonkar, KN, Brookes, VJ (2024) Spatio-temporal epidemiology of Japanese encephalitisvirus infection in pigpopulationsof eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, 2013-2022 Zoonosesand Public Health, 71(4):429?441 https://doi org/ 10 1111/ zph 13123

Dr Vi ct or i a Br ookes i n Far Nor t h Queensl and

Field epidemiologistsare critical in preventing, detecting, and controllingdiseaseslike avian influenza, and foot-and-mouth disease

But accordingto Associate Professor Navneet Dhand, there wasa lack of quality training resourcesand case studiesfor field epidemiologistsrelevant to the Asia-Pacific

To addressthisgap, the University of Sydney-led Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE)developed a world-classtrainingpackage comprising36 eLearningmodules

"APCOVE isa consortium involving epidemiologistsfrom all veterinary schoolsin Australia and New Zealand and eight countriesin the Asia Pacific region," says APCOVELeader Associate Professor Dhand "It wasestablished in 2020 with funding from the Indo- Pacific Centre for Health Security to strengthen the veterinary epidemiology capacity in the region".

Over 90 candidatesfrom seven countrieshave completed the training, currently available in six languages

Associate Professor Navneet Dhand Veterinary Biostatisticsand Epidemiology

APCOVEalso organised workshopsto train facilitatorsand mentorsfrom the Asia Pacific region in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, mentorship, teachingmethodsand leadership to fill some of the gapsidentified before establishingAPCOVE

Trained field epidemiologistsare expected to play an important role in conducting surveillance and outbreak investigations, facilitatingearly detection and swift response to disease outbreaks. Thiswill ensure disease containment on the infected farm of origin, avertingspread to neighbouringfarms, villages, districts, or acrossinternational borders.

APCOVEJoint Director Associate Professor Jenny- Ann Toribio says,

"Training new generations of frontline animal disease detectives isvital in preventing diseases that can infect livestock and humans."

Associate Professor Jenny- Ann Toribio Epidemiology

Ensuringquality and sustainability

Animalreproduction

Our researchersare unlockingthe crucial mysteriesof embryo viability and developmental biology Reachingdeeper into oocyte maturation and epigenetic reprogrammingiskey Now, cloned foalsoffer an invaluable model for these enquiries We are at the frontier of reproductive science and developmental biology of animals.

Professor Chris Grupen, an applied reproductive biologist at the University of Sydney, isleadinginnovative research to improve female fertility in livestock Professor Grupen?sresearch involvesproducinghorse embryosthrough advanced IVFtechniquesand cloning, resultingin the successful birth of healthy foals

In an Australian first, Professor Grupen and his colleaguesreported the birth of 12cloned foals usinga method called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) The research compared the quality of eggs(oocytes)collected post-mortem with those from live maresusingovum pick-up (OPU) Despite beingmore resource-intensive, usingOPUoocytesresulted in many more healthy cloned foalscompared to post-mortem oocytes Ongoingstudiesaim to understand the molecular factorsinvolved and trial treatments to improve oocyte viability

"To put it in simple terms, we?re trying to obtain the best quality eggs, and produce the best quality embryosthat will give rise to better pregnancy outcomes and healthy offspring."

By studyingoocyte quality in horsesand other livestock animals, Professor Grupen is uncoveringinsightsrelevant to human reproduction ?A very similar thinghappens in maresand in women with increasing agethe quality of their eggsdeclines dramatically.?

Professor Grupen emphasisesthat despite recent advances?producing embryosin the lab isstill not asgood asnature.?Professor Grupen?sresearch hasfar-reaching implications, from enhancingmeat and milk production in cattle to extendingthe reproductive longevity of valuable broodmares and potentially helpinginfertile couplesto have a healthy baby

Professor Christopher Grupen

Reproductive Biology

Cortez, J V, Hardwicke, K, Cuervo-Arango, J , Grupen, CG (2023) Cloninghorsesby somatic cell nuclear transfer: Effectsof oocyte source on development to foaling Theriogenology, 203:99-108 https://doi org/ 10 1016/ j theriogenology2023 03 018

Cortez, J V, Hardwicke, K, Grupen, CG, Herrid, M, Machaty, Z, Vajta, G (2024) Cloned foal born from postmortem-obtained ear sample refrigerated for 5 days before fibroblast isolation and decontamination of the infected monolayer culture Cellular Reprogramming, 26(1):33-36 https://doi org/ 10 1089/cell 2023 0076

Animal welfare

Exploringanimalwelfarescience,ethicsandlaw

Assessingquality of life (QoL)isa critical yet challengingaspect of veterinary science, particularly when it comesto non-domestic species Researchersin the Sydney School of Veterinary Science are exploringtoolsthat will enable zookeepersand those caringfor wild animalsto make informed QoL assessmentsthat can be used to improve the welfare of these animals

Over the course of her career asaclinical zoo and wildlife veterinarian, Associate Professor Michelle Campbell- Ward hasspent alot of time assessingand improvingthe quality of life (QoL)of awide variety of species Thisrequires judgement, trainingand experience, but naturally incorporatesan element of subjectivity Increasingly there hasbeen amove to use questionnaires, formsand scoring systemsto document QoL more formally but there hasbeen very little in the way of research to evaluate the effectivenessand accuracy of such toolsin zoo and wildlife settings

With her keen interest in animal welfare and ethics, and extensive practical experience in QoL assessmentsof different animals, two professional mentorsencouraged her to undertake areview

"The key finding isthat accurately measuring quality of life of zoo animalsisvery difficult and that, to date, formal attemptsto do so have been limited to euthanasia decision- makingscenariosfor geriatric animals".

Associate Professor Campbell- Ward said, "We have reasonably robust toolsto help usassess when quality of life iscompromised in high profile specieslike elephants, but these tools are not currently fit for purpose for different animalslike birdsand reptiles".

For those workingin zoosand wildlife parks, this work providesan overview of what quality of life is, what toolsare currently available to assessit in zoo animals, what challengesthisposesand where knowledge gapslie

"It will help zoo keepers, veterinarians, researchers, and managers to objectively review and refine their current assessment processes for all the animalsin their care," Associate Professor Campbell- Ward said.

"It also providesguidance for future research projectsthat aim to explore what mattersmost to different speciesand how we can best promote lifelong good animal welfare in zoological settings."

"I am passionate about improving the accuracy of our welfare and quality- of- life assessment methods for lesswell studied species," she added Afocusfor the next stage of her work will be native Australian animalsas well aswild prey speciesthat live in large herds or flocks

Associate Professor Michelle Campbell- Ward Wildlife and Avian Medicine

Funding 2023ataglance

We at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science appreciate the invaluable support and generosity of our funders. Your dedication and trust in our mission significantly impact both animalsand the people who rely on and care for them Thanksto your contributions, we have achieved remarkable milestonesand fostered enduring, positive change. Your partnership playsavital role in fuellingour passionate pursuit of our vision. We extend our gratitude to our fundersfor their support and continuousdedication to animal welfare Together, we are makinga significant difference and changinglives

$9.31million

Received in research grantsand philanthropic funds

Research funds

NSWDepartment ofPlanning& Environment

Meat & LivestockAustralia

AgriFuturesAustralia

Foreign,CommonwealthandDevelopment Office(UK)

FoodAgilityCRC

AustralianEggs

Department of Industry,ScienceandResources

OfficeofEnvironment andHeritageNSW

EndeavourVeterinaryEcology

McGarvieSmithInstitute

AustralasianPorkResearchInstitute

Department of ForeignAffairs& Trade

TheCommonwealthScientificandIndustrial Research Organisation

CanineResearchFoundation

CentreforCrocodileResearch

Royal NSWCanineCouncil HealthandWelfareCharity

Virbac(Australia)

FoundationforAustralia'sMost EndangeredSpecies

Philanthropic donors

MrsRosemaryManusu

MrArthurWitten

DrPamelaGuha

Universityof SydneyUSAFoundation

EstateofthelateJeanFraserMcCoroskin

EstateofthelateJudithClaireClarke

MrPeterRobertson

EstateofthelateCecileDaphneGriffin

DalaraFoundation

McCaugheyMemorial Institute

DrMarieRoweandMrDavidRowe

WildlifeInformation,RescueandEducationService

DrRamuneCobb

EmeritusProfessor RichardAndrewLeCouteur

MrMichael Kilcullen

MsLeithBrooke

Port StephensWildlifeHospital

TheWebsterFamily

MrsMaryHolt

We extend our gratitude to all our generousdonors, includingour anonymous contributors, for their support and belief in our mission

To discussthe impact youcould have on animal health and welfare research, please contact:

Anna Parente

Associate Director of Development, Animal Science

M: 0401389 842

E: annaparente@sydneyedu au

Georgie Coutts

Development Associate, Veterinary Science

M: 0403 167722

E: georginacoutts@sydneyedu au

Professor Jacqueline Norris

Professor Jan ?lapeta

Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate

Dr Anne Quain

Professor Michael Ward

Associate Professor Imke Tammen

Dr Sally Coggins

Professor Merran Govendir

Associate Professor Mary Thompson

Professor Richard Malik

Dr Benjamin Kimble

Dr CarolaVenturini

Dr Valentina Mella

Dr Christine Griebsch

Dr Nicolle Kirkwood

Dr VictoriaBrookes

Associate Professor Jenny-Ann Toribio

Associate Professor Navneet Dhand

Professor Christopher Grupen

Associate Professor Michelle Campbell-Ward

Sydney School of Veterinary Science sydneyedu au/ vetscience

Additional contact details: E: vetsci research@sydneyedu au @Sydney Vet Veterinary Sciences, University of Sydney