Vanessa Barrs Explained

Vanessa Barrs
Birth Place:North Carolina, United States
Nationality:Australian
Fields:Veterinary science
Education:University of Sydney
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Awards:Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
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Vanessa Rosemary Duke Barrs is a veterinary researcher in feline infectious diseases. Barrs established clinical research and specialist veterinary services at the Valentine Charlton Cat Centre within the University of Sydney where she is also Professor of Feline Medicine and Infectious Diseases.[1] Barrs discovered Aspergillus felis, an environmental fungus that causes invasive, intractable disease in cats, dogs and humans.[2] [3] [4] She is currently the BOCHK Chair Professor of Veterinary Medicine at City University of Hong Kongs Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences.[5]

Early life and education

She was born in North Carolina while her father, Henry Deacon Barrs, was a visiting CSIRO researcher at Duke University. Vanessa is the youngest of three children. She grew up in Griffith, NSW.

Barrs studied veterinary science at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1990. While pursuing clinical specialisation, she attained a Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies from the University of Sydney in 1997 and was admitted as a Member of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 1996 and made a Fellowship in 2000.[6]

Career achievements

Barrs has received awards including an Endeavour Research Fellowship in 2011[7] and the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association's Distinguished Scientist Award in 2009.[8] [9] Her teaching awards include the Australian Veterinary Association's Excellence in Teaching Award 2008.

She is a scientific editor for the Veterinary Journal (Elsevier),[10] sits on the board of directors of the Australasian Society of Feline Medicine[11] and, until 2018, was the president of the International Society of Companion Animal Infectious Diseases.

Notes and References

  1. News: How do cats purr? . . 31 May 2011 . Australian Broadcasting Commission . 1 November 2014 . Gary, Stuart.
  2. Barrs. VR. Aspergillus felis sp. nov. An emerging agent of aspergillosis in humans, cats and dogs. PLOS ONE. 2013. 10.1371/journal.pone.0064871. 8. 6. e64871. 23798996. 3683053. free.
  3. News: Brace yourself, internet: cats and dogs at risk from new fungus . Science Alert . 27 June 2013 . 1 November 2014 . Datta, Kausik.
  4. News: A feline fungus joins the new species list . University of Sydney . 18 June 2013 . 1 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Prof. Vanessa Barrs VCS City University of Hong Kong. City University of Hong Kong. 8 March 2024.
  6. Web site: Research Staff - Ass Prof Vanessa Barrs . University of Sydney . 1 November 2014.
  7. Web site: Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships. AEI. Australian Government. 2014-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20141102104029/https://aei.gov.au/scholarships-and-fellowships/pages/default.aspx. 2014-11-02. dead.
  8. Web site: Associate Professor Vanessa Barrs. University of Sydney.
  9. Web site: ASAVA. Australian Veterinary Association.
  10. Web site: The Veterinary Journal Editorial Board . Elsevier . 1 November 2014.
  11. Web site: About us . Australasian Society of Feline Medicine . 1 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141031221115/http://asfm.com.au/about-us/ . 31 October 2014 . dead . dmy-all .