Dr. Callum Donnelly Receives James M. Wilson Award
Dr. Callum Donnelly was named as the recipient of the 2024 James M. Wilson Award. Presented to graduate students or UC Davis veterinary hospital residents, this award recognizes individuals who significantly advance equine health through publication of the year's most outstanding research reports.
Dr. Donnelly was chosen for his publication entitled, “Cerebrospinal fluid and serum proteomic profiles accurately distinguish neuroaxonal dystrophy from cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy in horses,” which was published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2023;37:689–696).
He completed his veterinary degree at Charles Sturt University in Australia and residencies in Comparative Reproductive Medicine at Cornell University and Large Animal Internal Medicine at UC Davis. Donnelly is a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He received his PhD in Integrative Pathobiology at UC Davis under the mentorship of Dr. Carrie Finno.
His winning publication evaluated new techniques to predict biomarkers that could aid in the diagnosis of noninfectious neurological conditions in horses, specifically cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM), also known as “Wobblers”, and equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM). Both cause ataxia (uncoordinated gait), which results in poor performance and safety concerns for riders. These disorders are very hard to differentiate clinically.
This study utilized a diagnostic method to evaluate proteins in the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. Different combinations of proteins were able to accurately predict which horses are normal and which have neuroaxonal degeneration. The long-term goal is to use this approach to develop a panel of tests that veterinarians can use to accurately diagnose the cause of ataxia. More accurate diagnostics could provide better treatments and outcomes for affected horses.
"Dr. Donnelly accomplished a tremendous amount of research during his PhD training,” said Finno. “This exciting work has already moved the field forward in identifying biomarkers of neurologic disease in horses."
Now an Assistant Professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Donnelly has continued to pursue research in equine health and disease with projects using precision techniques to investigate metabolic and reproductive health in horses and novel genomic approaches to the diagnosis of pregnancy conditions.
Congratulations Dr. Donnelly on this well-deserved honor!