Same great Doctor, new Title

Most will recognize the new head of the physiological sciences department, Dr. Carey Pope, the Sitlington endowed chair in toxicology and, until recently, the interim head of the physiological sciences department.

Pope, who is also known for his research, received the 2005 Regents Distinguished Research Award honoring his outstanding and meritorious achievements.

EPA-supported studies in Pope’s lab first demonstrated that the common insecticide chlorpyrifos was markedly more toxic to young animals than adults — findings that contributed to the subsequent withdrawal of all home and garden uses of chlorpyrifos in 2000 to prevent unsafe levels of pesticides in children’s diets.

He has also studied etiological factors in unexplained illnesses sometimes referred to as “Gulf War Syndrome.” Research supported by the U.S. Army allowed characterization of the effects of different types of stressors on the neurotoxicity of pyridostigmine, a drug used to protect against nerve agent intoxication. The findings supported its continued military use.

Pope’s lab has also studied selective actions of different cholinesterase inhibitors. NIH-supported research demonstrated additional mechanistic actions of some organophosphorus insecticides that may eventually lead to more effective treatment strategies for insecticide and nerve agent intoxication.

stories by DerinDa Lowe

Dr. Dianne McFarlane is an assistant professor of physiology in the physiological sciences department. McFarlane, who was born in New York, received a bachelor’s in animal science from Clemson University, a master’s in molecular genetics from the University of Georgia, a DVM degree from the University of California-Davis and a doctorate in clinical pharmacology from the University of Prince Edward Island. She completed a large animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia and an ACVIM equine medicine residency at North Carolina State University. McFarlane’s research interests include aging and endocrine diseases of horses. She has authored or co-authored numerous publications and is currently studying equine Cushing’s disease and its similarity to Parkinson’s disease in humans.

Dr. Melanie Boileau, an assistant professor of food animal medicine in the clinical sciences department, is accepting referral cases at the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Boileau, who is originally from Quebec, Canada, received her DVM degree in 2000 and completed her internship in bovine medicine and surgery in 2001 from Montreal University Veterinary College. She completed her residency program in food animal medicine and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at OSU in 2004. Boileau’s research interests include the management of dystocia using tocolytic drugs, clinical pharmacology, neonatalogy and camelid medicine.