Professor Christopher Riley

Biography/ Background

After my initial training in Physics and flying in the RAAF, I left to pursue a veterinary degree, graduating in the late '80's. Following a 2-year internship and a brief period in private practice I was accepted into the North American veterinary residency program. I completed a 3-year large animal surgery residency concurrently with a MSc., during which I established an in-vitro explant model of the equine flexor tendons. In 1998 I completed my PhD which examined the biochemical responses of tendon connective tissues to drug treatment, and passed my specialty examination in large animal surgery (Dipl. ACVS). A year of clincal teaching in emergency medicine and surgery at Iowa State University (USA) was followed by private practice in eastern Canada. In 1999 I accepted an appointment in large animal surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island (Canada), serving as Chief of Large Animal Surgery for 10 years, and attaining the rank of tenured full Professor before coming to the University of Adelaide. In addition to my academic activities, I have been active in organizing and leading humanitarian teams to train local people in animal and public health in developing countries including Haiti, Peru and central America.       

Qualifications

BSc. - RAAF Physics (University of Melbourne)

BVSc(Hons). (University of Melbourne)

Certificate of Internship - Equine Medicine & Surgery (Murdoch University)

Certificate of Residency - Large Animal Surgery (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Master of Science - In-vitro tendon biology (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Doctor of Philosophy - In-vitro tendon biochemistry (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Diplomate ACVS - Specialist in veterinary surgery (LA) (American College of Veterinary Surgeons)

PGCertInnovMgt - Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation Mangement (University of Melbourne)

Teaching Interests

I am interested in training students in the practice and application of practical skills in equine management, business, medicine and surgery. In particular I enjoy fostering the transformation of students from the foundations learnt in the didactic teaching environment, to confident individuals capable of developing and applying practical professional skills on graduation. As team leader for the equine portion of the animal and veterinary science program, my goal is to train highly skilled graduates that will be excel professionally, and be valued nationally and internationally. 

In addition to traditional opportunities for education in animal science and health, I greatly favour opportunities which allow students to understand the value of what they have to offer to society. These include enriched external opportunities in working enterprises, humanitarian service and teaching experiences in developing countries.

Research Interests

My research is oriented towards using basic scientific research technologies including  biomedical infrared spectroscopy and bioinformatics, to develop tools for the economic and accurate screening and diagnosis of diseases. I am particularly interested in diseases which have signifcant economic and societal impacts on human and animal heath. In recent years I have collaborated with international researchers in a fields as diverse as mathemetics, physics and clinical medicine to develop teams focused on developing applications for the screening of patients with abnormalities in humoral immunity, and in comparative orthopaedic research.

Publications

Book Chapter

Shaw RA Low Ying S, Man A, Liu K-Z, Mansfield C, Riley C, Vijarnsorn M. Infrared Spectroscopy of Biofluids in Clinical Chemistry and Medical Diagnostics. In Modern Concepts in Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy. P. Lasch and J. Kneipp, Eds. John Wiley & Sons Inc, Oxford. 2008; 79-103 pp

Seleted Peer Reviewed Publications

1. Riley CB. Infrared spectroscopy - A new tool for the study of synovial fluid. Equine Musculoskeletal Biomarkers - Havemeyer Foundation Monograph Series No. 22, McIlwraith W, Wade JF, Eds. 2008;22:32-33.

2. Riley CB, McClure JT, Low-Ying S, Shaw RA. Use of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for the diagnosis of failure of transfer of passive immunity and measurement of immunoglobulin concentrations in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2007; 21:828-834.

3. Riley CB, Kulik K, Crane M, Robblee F, McKenna SBL. Management of infertility due to unilateral segmental aplasia of the paramesonephric (Müllerian) duct in Holstein Friesian cattle - a case based review and update. Bov Pract 2007; 41:24-31.

4. Vijarnsorn M, Riley CB, Ryan DAJ, Rose PL, Shaw RA. Identification of infrared absorption spectral characteristics of synovial fluid of horses with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint. Am J Vet Res 2007; 68: 517-523.

5. Hatfield CL, Riley CB. Management of airway difficulties during induction of general anesthesia in an American Miniature horse with dwarfism. Can Vet J 2007;48:188-191.

6. Vijarnsorn M, Riley CB, Shaw RA, McIlwraith CW, Ryan DAJ, Rose PL, Spangler E. Use of infrared spectroscopy for diagnosis of traumatic arthritis in horses. Am J Vet Res 2006; 67:1286-92.

7. Sowa MG, Kohlenberg E, Payette JR, Leonardi L, Levasseur MA, Riley CB. Detecting intestinal ischemia using near infrared spectroscopy J Near Infrared Spectroscopy. 2006;14:1-7.

 

 

 

Entry last updated: Saturday, 29 Jan 2011