Sydney School of Veterinary Science Annual Research Report 2025
Sydney School of Veterinary Science
Professor Jacqueline Norris
Head of School and Dean
It isa great privilege to introduce you to the 2025Annual Research Report for the Sydney School of Veterinary Science (SSVS)at the University of Sydney The report isthe tip of the icebergin termsof the impactful research completed thisyear We are immensely proud of our successin research focused academic positionssuch asDr Alison Peel (Sydney Horizon Fellow), Dr NicholaCalvani (Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, DECRA), Dr Carola Venturini (National Health and Medical Research Council, NHMRC Fellow)and the very first veterinary Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, Professor Michael Ward Their storiesand passionsare outlined in thisreport
Our school researchershave come together to set the scene for the next 7yearsthrough our research strategy pillarswhich clearly reflect our commitment to impactful, collaborative and future-focused research that advancesanimal and human health, supportsthrivingcommunitiesand strengthens our role asa leader in veterinary science
We are alwaysincredibly grateful asaschool for the support we receive from our amazingphilanthropists and grantingbodies, without whom research could not proceed. Finally, a shout out to our Centre for Veterinary Education team who alwayssupport the promotion of our research projectsand those of colleaguesnationally
Please reach out to the school if you would like to know more about any of our research projectsor discoveries
At the University of Sydney, and within the School, we embrace the continuousnature of discovery and learning The past year hasbrought exciting developmentsto our research community We proudly welcomed Australian Laureate, DECRAand Horizon Fellows, while appointingfour new SSVS Postdoctoral Researchers These research intensive academicsshape the future of veterinary science through innovation and collaboration in Australia and globally.
The collaborative spirit within the Sydney School of Veterinary Science highlightsour commitment to achievinghigh-quality research Our researchers generate insightsthat drive advancementsin One Health, significantly contributingto global health and sustainability, and fosteringpositive changeslocally and internationally
Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate Associate Head of Research Education
We have welcomed a large new cohort of Higher Degree by Research candidates. These amazing individualswill be pivotal in advancingveterinary science research, asthey bringfresh perspectives and novel ideasto abroad range of topicsthat are researched in our School The opportunity to work with supervisorson projectssuch asthose included in the report will ensure continuity of the successof research in veterinary sciencewhether it be with bats, pigs, parasitesor somethingelse!
Dr Anne Quain
Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice
2025 Member of Research AdvisoryCommittee
It iscritical that our work with animalsisinformed by the highest quality evidence The School isa global leader in veterinary research that makesa difference to animals, those who depend on them and the public at large Thisreport providesan insight into some of the recent highlights, and we are very proud to share it with you
Research publications SydneySchoolofVeterinaryScience
With 1,028 publicationsbetween 2020 and 20241 , our interdisciplinary research at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science isdrivingglobal impact and advancingsolutionsto the most pressingchallengesin animals, their welfare and public health.
Amongthese, five publications? appearingin Nature, Nature Communications, Science of the Total Environment, Transboundaryand EmergingDiseases, Animalsand Toxinswere each cited over 100 times. Notably, 63% of our publications(643 papers)were published as Open Access (Gold or Gold Hybrid), accountingfor 5,943 citations, and maximising accessibility of our research.
1Data retrieved (June 2025)from Scopussearch resultsfor publicationsaffiliated with Sydney School of Veterinary Science Open Accessrepresentsaggregate of "Gold" and "Gold Hybrid" publications- https:// www scopuscom All articlesincluded in the background of thispage are the most cited (2020-2024)or referenced throughout thisreport
AsArtificial Intelligence (AI)becomesincreasingly embedded in both everyday life and veterinary practice, the School isalready preparingstudentsfor thisevolvinglandscape. One such initiative isapioneeringresearch led by Dr Kate Worthing, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Microbiology, which investigateshow veterinary studentsengage with AI tools such asChatGPT.
Dr Worthing'sresearch surveyed students acrossall four yearsof the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)program to understand their perceptionsof AI in education and clinical settings "AI is already omnipresent in our lives," she says
"We need to ensure our students are equipped to navigate this new AI landscape "
The study found that over 75% of students were already usingChatGPT, with many describingit aspractical and easy to use However, concernsabout accuracy were common "Students appreciated the convenience of ChatGPT, but they were cautious about its authoritative tone? even when it was wrong," Dr Worthing notes
Studentswho completed acritical analysistask involvingChatGPTdeveloped a more balanced view? recognisingitsusefulnesswhile remainingalert to itslimitations. "We found that if students are asked to critically evaluate AI as part of their degree, they are more likely to consider AI a useful tool but are also more likely to question its accuracy," she explains
The research revealsstrongstudent support for integratingAI education into the veterinary curriculum "It would be silly for vet schools to try to prevent its use, or to pretend that it is not happening," Dr Worthingsaid
"Our school was one of the first to introduce a critical appraisal task that integrated AI into student learning."
Lookingahead, Dr Worthing seesAI playinga growingrole in veterinary practice? from clinical note transcription to identifying life-threateningconditionsthat need immediate veterinary intervention But she?s clear about the enduringvalue of human skills
"There will always be a need for the 'concrete' skills of a veterinarian? whether that's performing surgery, comforting a grieving owner, or investigating a sudden death in a flock of sheep."
Dr Kate Worthing Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Microbiology
Professor Michael Ward, aveterinary epidemiologist at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, wasawarded one of Australia'smost prestigiousresearch honoursin 2024, the Australian Research Council (ARC)Laureate Fellowship. Thishighly competitive fellowship supportsworld-classresearchersto lead transformative projectsthat addressmajor national and global challenges
For Professor Ward, the challenge isclear: understandingand preventingthe spread of transboundary diseases? those that cross bordersand threaten animal and human health worldwide
"These diseases don't respect national boundaries "
He explains, "They're often highly contagious or spread in ways that are hard to control That makes them a serious threat to agriculture, economies, and public health."
Australiahasso far remained free from many of these diseases, such asFoot-and-Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever But Professor Ward'sresearch isfocused on keepingit that way.
"Preventing these diseases from entering Australia is critical. It protects our animals, our economy, and our way of life."
Over the past 15 years, Professor Ward hasled groundbreakingfieldwork in remote regionslike the Kimberley and Cape York. Histeam used GPScollars, camera traps, and genetic analysis to study how wild and domestic animals interact? key to understandinghow diseases
might jump between species "We found that wild dogs shift closer to human communities at certain times of year, while domestic dogs venture further out during others These patterns help us predict and prevent disease spillover "
Professor Ward'swork hasalready informed national policy, includinga government awarenesscampaign on rabies, and the ARC Laureate Fellowship allowshim to go even deeper Over the next five years, he and his team will explore the wild-domestic animal interface acrossmultiple ecosystems, aimingto uncover the fundamental driversof disease emergence
"This is a once- in- a- career opportunity," he says
"We're building decision- support tools that can simulate disease outbreaks and test different control strategies It?s about giving policymakers the evidence they need to act quickly and effectively."
When asked what advice he'd give hisyounger self, Professor Ward smiles: "Do something you're passionate about, and you'll never work a day in your life "
Professor Michael Ward Australian Laureate Fellow Chair, Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety
Infectiousdisease and biosecurity
OneHealthframework
Dr Alison Peel, veterinarian and wildlife disease ecologist isleadingresearch into the complexrelationshipsbetween bats, virusesand the environment Asarecipient of the prestigiousSydney Horizon Fellowship, Dr Peel isusingthisopportunity to explore how ecological change and human activity influence the emergence of virusesthat can spill over from batsto other species, includinghumans
"Bats aren't bad, " explains Dr Peel
"Like all animals, bats carry viruses they've co- evolved with? viruses that usually don't make them sick. The problem arises when these viruses spill over into new species whose immune systems haven't evolved ways to fight back "
Her research, grounded in a One Health framework, investigateshow land use change, climate cycles, and habitat lossare drivingthese spillover events. "These viruses have been around for millennia," she says "It's human activity? deforestation and land use change? that's pushing bats into closer contact with people and domestic animals "
Dr Peel'swork on Hendravirus, adeadly pathogen that can spill over from batsto horses and humans, hasbeen internationally recognised. Arecent study she co-authored brought together decadesof ecological, climate, and land-use datato predict high-risk spillover years. "It was a massive collaborative effort "
Dr Peel pointsout that thisresearch demonstrated solutions "Replanting native habitat can reduce risk by giving bats healthier environments and keeping them away from horses?, she says
Beyond the science, Dr Peel ispassionate about changingpublic perceptionsof bats "They're often misunderstood," she says.
"It's important to normalise bats as part of Australia's wildlife? through education, media, even public art."
Dr Peel researcheshow the unique immune systemsof batsmight allow them to carry awide range of viruseswithout becomingill "We think bats have a strong innate immune system that keeps viruses in check without clearing them completely," she explains "That might be why they can carry so many viruses at once "
With support from the Horizon Fellowship and a University of Sydney Ignition grant, Dr Peel is expandingher research globally, comparingviral dynamicsin Australian batswith similar systemsin South Africa "We're looking for patterns that can help us understand and prevent future pandemics," she says "It's about protecting both human and environmental health "
Dr Alison Peel
Sydney Horizon Fellow
Plowright, RK, Ahmed, AN, Coulson, T, Crowther, TW, Ejotre, I , Faust, C L , Frick, WF, Hudson, PJ , Kingston, T, Nameer, PO, O'Mara, MT, Peel, AJ , Possingham, H, Razgour, O, Reeder, DM, Ruiz-Aravena, M, Simmons, NB, Srinivas, PN, Tabor, GM, Tanshi, I , Thompson, IG, Vanak, AT, Vora, NM, Willison, C E, Keeley, ATH, 2024 Ecological countermeasuresto prevent pathogen spillover and subsequent pandemics Nature Communications15:2577 https://doi org/ 10 1038/s41467-024-46151-9 Eby, P, Peel, AJ , Hoegh, A, Madden, W, Giles, J R, Hudson, PJ , Plowright, RK, 2023 Pathogen spillover driven by rapid changesin bat ecology Nature 613:340?344 https://doi org/ 10 1038/s41586-022-05506-2
Engage with the veterinary community: Conductingmeaningful projectsthat showcase talent and passion for sustainable research addressingreal-world questions. Make interdisciplinary and cross- species research sustainable:
Leveragingdecadeslongtrack record in interdisciplinary research to ensure applied outcomesthrough high-quality clinical, community and industry linked collaborations. Prioritise One Health approach:
Supportinghealthy and thrivingcommunities by buildingimpactful research and education partnershipsto advance animal health and welfare, biosecurity and zoonotic disease prevention.
Pillar 2:
Prioritising innovative and collaborative research communities
We will:
Expand multidisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders
Prioritisinga community of innovative, diverse, and approachable researchers, educators, and mentorsfocusingon research that future-proofsveterinary science
Create research active veterinary hospitals
Utilisingveterinary hospitalsasthe interface of the research collective to investigate existing and emergingchallengesin animal health and welfare of community importance while trainingfuture veterinary leaders.
Invest into ethical and translational research
Deliveringethical research leveragingbroad animal health and production expertise, with industry engagement and community networks.
Pillar 3:
Investing in research education and capacity building
We will:
Expand integration of education and research
Incorporatingeducation and research through collegiality and evidence-based practice to build capacity in new veterinary leaders
Invest in future leaders development
Solvingexistingand emerginghealth and welfare problems, and generatingleadersof the veterinary profession.
Evidence based clinical practice Virusesfightingsuperbugs
Dr CarolaVenturini, amicrobiologist at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, was awarded aprestigiousNHMRC IdeasGrant, a competitive scheme designed to support innovative and creative research acrossall areasof health and medical science Her project exploreshow virusesthat infect bacteria, called bacteriophagesor simply "phages", can be used against antimicrobial resistant pathogens
"Phages are the most abundant life form on Earth "
Dr Venturini explains. "They've been used for over a century in parts of the world, but we?re only now beginning to understand how to harness them effectively in modern medicine "
Her research focuseson the complex interactionsbetween phagesand bacteria, particularly in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)? a growingglobal health threat.
Unlike antibiotics, which can affect abroad range of bacteria, phagesare highly specific, targetingonly certain bacterial strains This specificity makesthem both powerful and challengingto use.
"One of the main challenges is reliability," she says "Phage therapy doesn? t always work the same way every time, and that makes it hard to standardise like we do for antibiotics "
At the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Dr Venturini'sresearch ishelpingto shape the future of veterinary microbiology By collaboratingwith veterinary cliniciansand researchers, she'sapplyingphage science to real-world challengesin animal health
"We're developing phage- based treatments for chronic infections in pets? especially those that no longer respond to antibiotics "
Dr. Venturini adds, "It's incredibly rewarding to see this research translate into potential solutions for our veterinary patients "
She isalso exploringphage enzymes, like depolymerasesand endolysins, which can modify the bacterial cell surface and weaken the pathogen and may be used alongside antibioticsto enhance their effectiveness Her research includesdevelopingphage-based diagnostics, studyingphage-bacteria co-evolution, and applyingphagesin environmental settingslike bioremediation? all within aOne Health framework that connects human, animal, and environmental health
Phagesasvirusesmay often be misunderstood, but Dr Venturini concludes:
"Phages are a natural part of microbial ecosystems? and they might just provide a unique ecological solution in the fight against superbugs."
Dr Carola Venturini
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology
One Health Phage and Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory (OHPAL)
Fajardo-Lubian, A, Venturini, C , 2023 Use of bacteriophagesto target intracellular pathogens Clinical InfectiousDiseases77, S423?S432 https://doi org/ 10 1093/cid/ciad515
In the world of infectiousdisease, parasitesare often overlooked? overshadowed by bacteria and virusesin both public awarenessand toolsto study them But for Dr Nichola Calvani, an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)Fellow at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, these complexorganismsdeserve far more attention.
"Parasites aren't the problem," says Dr Calvani
"The real challenge is that we've lacked the tools to study them properly."
Thanksto advancesin biotechnology, that is changing Dr Calvani isusing3Dcell culture systemsto study Fasciola hepatica, the liver fluke responsible for fasciolosisin livestock and humansglobally Her work ishelpingto uncover how these parasitesinvade and damage the liver, without the need for live animal testing
Amajor milestone is Dr Calvani'sdevelopment of a3Dculture system for liver fluke, the first of it'skind "It's taken years of work, but now other researchers can use this model too," she says "It's a platform for everything from basic biology to vaccine development "
Prior to this, researcherswere limited to studyingthe parasitesin simple liquid media that failed to replicate the host environment, or were required to wait up to 3 weeksuntil they were bigenough to remove from the liversof infected animals. "By unlocking this critical early infection period, we can now study the secret life of parasites in unprecedented detail."
Currently, there isonly one highly effective drug available to treat liver fluke infections. "We don't even fully understand how it works "
Dr Calvani explains "And that's a problem As the only drug registered for use in people, the growth of resistance in livestock globally means we have no back up for human infections "
Dr Calvani'slab growsliver-like tissuesinvitro, allowingresearchersto observe how parasites invade, migrate, and develop in acontrolled environment
"It's like building a synthetic liver and watching the parasite in action. We can test drugs, study resistance, and learn how these organisms behave? all without harming a single animal "
Dr Calvani'swork hasreal-world applications. She collaborateswith farmersin the Southern Tablelandsof New South Wales, one of the world'srichest Merino wool regions, to bringlab insightsinto the field We're working closely with farmers to ensure what we do in the lab is relevant to their daily livestock parasite management," She explains "The goal is to help farmers treat livestock only when necessary, using the right drug at the right time "
"Parasites are clever, but with the right tools, we can outsmart them
"
Dr Nichola Calvani
Lecturer
in Veterinary Parasitology
Vitkauskaite, A, Emma, M, Richard, L , Carolina, DMV, H, DM, Kerry, T, Peter, O, Oliver, FH, Pius, DJ , and Calvani,
2025 I
co-culture of Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juveniles(NEJs)with 3DHepG2spheroidspermitsnovel investigation of host?parasite interactions Virulence 16:2482159 https://doi org/ 10 1080/ 21505594 20252482159
NED,
nvitro
Genetics, genomicsand zoology
Focusedoncharacterisationofbiologicaldiversity
Dr Glenn SheaisSenior Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science He happensto be a world-renowned taxonomist, an expert in the science of classification in zoology who identifies, describesand nameslivingorganisms He usesanatomical and comparative methodsto help track and understand patternsof speciesdiversity in the natural world
Thisyear Dr Shea'swork wasrecognised by international peerswho elected him asa Commissioner for the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature He will be one of 26 scientistswho adjudicate on requeststo alter namesof species, generaand families, or the application of those names The Commissioners are also workingon developingthe long-awaited 5th edition of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature
"Creating a new code is a long, slow and complex process The last edition came out in 2000, before the era of electronic publication," says Dr Shea
The Code requiresnew namesto be published in an unalterable format for permanent record, with the first publication of aname beingthe one that counts.
Dr Shea hasauthored or co-authored over 240 scientific publications, and another 400 species assessmentsfor the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species He haspersonally named many Australian speciesincludingDemansia shinei (Shine?sWhipsnake), Aniliosfossor (the Ruby Gap Blindsnake), Delma mitella (the Atherton Delma, aflap-footed or leglesslizard), Cyclodomorphuspraealtus(the Alpine Sheoak Skink)and Cyrtodactyluspronarus(the McIlwraith Ring-tailed Gecko).
"Namesare the foundation of biology," says Dr Shea
"We cannot work in biology without applying names to things, and the system of names should be as stable as we can make it."
Dr Shea'swork takeshim to museumsaround the globe, where he spendsalot of time examiningreference or type specimenswhich are the basisof speciesidentification.
In the modern erathere hasbeen a focuson genetics. Dr Shea adds:
"While genetic analysis might tell you that different species exist, that doesn't tell you how to recognise those species based on appearance."
Hence the demand for scientistswith Dr Shea's expertise in morphologic taxonomy
Dr Glenn Shea
Senior Lecturer in
Veterinary Anatomy
Mastretta-Yanes, A, daSilva, J M, Grueber, C E, Castillo-Reina, L , Koppa, V, Forester, BR, Funk, WC , Heuertz, M, Ishihama, F, Jordan, R, Mergeay, J , Paz-Vinas, I , Rincon-Parra, VJ , Rodriguez-Morales, MA, Arredondo-Amezcua, L , Brahy, G, DeSaix, M, Durkee, L , Hamilton, A, Hunter, ME, Koontz, A, Lang, I , Latorre-Cardenas, MC , Latty, T, Llanes-Quevedo, A, MacDonald, AJ , Mahoney, M, Miller, C , Ornelas, J F, Ramirez-Barahona, S, Robertson, E, Russo, I M, Santiago, MA, Shaw, RE, Shea, GM, Sjogren-Gulve, P, Spence, ES, Stack, T, Suarez, S, Takenaka, A, Thurfjell, H, Turbek, S, van der Merwe, M, Visser, F, Wegier, A, Wood, G, Zarza, E, Laikre, L , Hoban, S, 2024 Multinational evaluation of genetic diversity indicatorsfor the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework EcologyLetters27:e14461 https://doi org/ 10 1111/ele 14461
Ensuringquality and sustainability Animalreproduction
Dr Roslyn Bathgate, a researcher at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, ison a mission to improve the welfare and productivity of pigsin intensive farmingsystems Her work focuseson acritical but often overlooked issue in pigproduction: farrowing, or the processof givingbirth.
"I love pigs" she sayssimply
"Pigs are an incredibly efficient source of protein, and we need to find ways to farm them that are both welfare- friendly and economically sustainable."
One of the biggest challenges Associate Professor Bathgate istacklingisdystocia, difficult or prolonged labour in sows. While this condition iswell-recognised in human and veterinary medicine, it isoften dismissed in the pigindustry. "There's a widespread belief that dystocia doesn't exist in pigs," she explains "But when you talk to producers, they'll describe exactly those problems, they just don't call it that ?
Thislack of recognition meansthere are no clear, evidence-based guidelinesfor managing farrowing
"There is no scientific definition of what a 'normal' birth looks like in pigs."
"In France, they intervene after 30 minutes In the US, it's 45 minutes But no one really knows where those numbers come from," explains Associate Professor Bathgate
Associate Professor Bathgate'sresearch aims to change that She isworkingto develop practical, low-cost guidelinesthat help farmers make informed decisionsduringfarrowing, improvingpiglet survival and sow welfare
"We want to give producers a simple, science- backed way to know when to intervene and what to do."
"An idiot's guide to farrowing, if you like," she says
Her work also haseconomic implications Dystocia leadsto lost piglets, but interveningtoo soon can lead to high sow turnover? known as 'sowwastage'? which iscostly for producers "If a sow doesn't make it to her third litter, the farm loses money," she explains.
"Better farrowing management means healthier piglets and more productive sows."
Lookingahead, Associate Professor Bathgate plansto refine the guidelinesbased on farmer feedback "It's not going to be perfect the first time," she says "But if we can get producers to engage with it, we can keep improving it together "
Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate Animal Reproduction
Walls, A, Hall, E,
S, Bathgate, R, 2024 An investigation of parturient ocular appearance in sows Animals14(18):2693 https://doi org/ 10 3390/ani14182693
Walls, A, Hatze, B, Lomax, S, Bathgate, R, 2022 Defining"normal" in pigparturition Animals12(20):2754 https://doi org/ 10 3390/ani12202754
Lomax,
"Veterinariansdon? t just treat animals, theytreat thepeoplewholovethem."
? Anonymous
Funding 2024ataglance
We at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science are sincerely grateful for the profound support and generosity of our funders Your belief and trust in our mission empowersusto push boundariesin veterinary science, advancing research, education, and care that deliversreal-world impact in the livesof animalsand the people who care for and depend on them Over the past year, your contributionshave enabled usto pursue bold ideas, nurture the next generation of veterinary leaders, and take meaningful stridestowardssolutionsthat improve the future of animal health and welfare Thank you for your vital partnership, commitment, and vision, which makesall thisprogress possible Together, we are creatinglastingimpact, transformingcare, and shapingabetter future for all
$10.4 million
Received in research grantsand philanthropic funds
Research funds
Department of ForeignAffairs& Trade
Meat & LivestockAustralia
AustralianResearchCouncil
Foreign,CommonwealthandDevelopment Office(UK)
AgriFuturesAustralia
Department of ClimateChange,Energy,the Environment andWater
We extend our gratitude to all our generousdonors, includingthose contributorswho wish to remain anonymous, for their unwaveringsupport and belief in our mission
To discussthe impact youcould have on animal health and welfare research, please contact:
Lavinia Liclican
Development Associate, Veterinary Science
M: 0468 810 882
E: lavinia.liclican@sydney.edu.au
Professor Jacqueline Norris
Dr Anne Quain Dash the dog
Professor Jan ?lapeta
Dr Carola Venturini
Dr Kate Worthing
Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate
Professor Michael Ward
Dr Nichola Calvani
TamaraKirby
Dr Alison Peel
Dr Glenn Shea
Sydney School of Veterinary Science
sydneyedu au/ vetscience
Veterinary science research
sydney.edu.au/ vetscience/ research
Additional contact details: E: vetsci research@sydneyedu au
