Overview
Background
Professor Nigel Perkins is from a mixed grazing property in south west Queensland and completed a veterinary degree at the University of Queensland, followed by a Master of Science at The Ohio State University and a PhD in veterinary epidemiology at Massey University, New Zealand. He has practiced as a veterinarian in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and has worked as a veterinary academic clinician at university veterinary schools in Australia, the USA and New Zealand. In 2003 Nigel was promoted to Associate Professor in veterinary epidemiology and Group Leader of the EpiCentre, an internationally acclaimed epidemiology research and consultancy centre within the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Science, Massey University. Nigel then joined AusVet - a private epidemiology consultancy company - in 2004 and became a Director of AusVet in 2007. Nigel joined UQ in February 2016 as Professor of One Health and Academic Superintendent within the School of Veterinary Science. In October 2017 Nigel was appointed as the Head of School of the School of Veterinary Science.
Nigel has held leadership roles in a number of organisations, including research program manager for the Horse R&D Program within the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), surveillance program co-ordinator for the Australian Biosecurity Co-operative Research Centre (AB-CRC), and Chief Examiner of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. He is the current Chair of the Thoroughbred Advisory Panel for Agrifutures Australia. Nigel is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the field of veterinary epidemiology. He has broad experience in investigations of animal health, welfare, production and disease in a number of species including sheep, cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, aquatic species, and wildlife, as well as experience in human health projects. He has been involved in many short-term projects in Asian countries associated with capacity building in animal health, transboundary animal disease preparedness and response, risk analysis and disease outbreaks. Nigel's work has a strong focus on improving animal health, production and welfare outcomes in Australian livestock as well as providing leadership within the veterinary profession and in the broader areas of science, food sustainability and one health. .
Availability
- Professor Nigel Perkins is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, Ohio State University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Massey University
- Fellow, American College of Theriogenologists, American College of Theriogenologists
- Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Research interests
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One Health
One Health encompasses issues that have impacts on veterinary medicine, human medicine and environmental health. Examples include zoonotic diseases (diseases of animals that impact human health), biodiversity, sustainable agricultural systems and practices that support general health and welfare for all.
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Veterinary epidemiology
The study of patterns of health and disease in populations of animals, including studies focusing on disease, production and welfare.
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Quantitative epidemiology
Application of statistical methods for experimental design, sample size estimation, power analysis and the use of advanced statistical analyses for deriving informaiton from complex datasets.
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Clinical trials
Design, statistical analyses and reporting for clinical trials including drug development, registration and marketing type applications.
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Veterinary education
Providing effective training focused on learning outcomes and practical skill development for undergraduate and post graduate students and for veterinarians and other professions aiming to develop advanced skills in epidemiology and statistics.
Research impacts
Professor Perkins has been involved in a wide range of research activities as a university faculty member and as a private consultant. He has led teams investigating outbreaks of unknown or previously undescribed diseases in horses, small animals and aquaculture species both within Australia and internationally. Nigel played a key role in identifying and characterising processionary caterpillar exposure as a new cause of abortion in mares in Australia and developing risk management strategies for this condition. This work is currently being continued under an ARC Linkage grant in collaboration with researchers from the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Nigel has been either a team leader or a co-investigator in numerous projects investigating production, health and welfare outcomes in livestock within Australia and overseas. In addition he has been involved in numerous projects with a one health application including projects involving avian influenza, zoonotic disease assessment in Asia, Q Fever, and Hendra virus. Nigel has particular interests in quantitative epidemiology and applied statistics as well as disease control, surveillance, risk analysis, risk factor studies, animal production, reproduction, welfare and zoonotic diseases.
Works
Search Professor Nigel Perkins’s works on UQ eSpace
1994
Journal Article
Reproductive emergencies in the stallion
Perkins, N. R. and Frazer, G. S. (1994). Reproductive emergencies in the stallion. The Veterinary clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 10 (3), 671-683. doi: 10.1016/S0749-0739(17)30353-X
1994
Journal Article
Reproductive emergencies in the mare
Perkins, N. R. and Frazer, G. S. (1994). Reproductive emergencies in the mare. The Veterinary clinics of North America: Equine practice, 10 (3), 643-670. doi: 10.1016/S0749-0739(17)30352-8
1993
Journal Article
Pulsatile secretion of luteinizing-hormone and progesterone in mares during the estrous-cycle and early-pregnancy
Perkins, N., Threlfall, W.R. and Ottobre, J.S. (1993). Pulsatile secretion of luteinizing-hormone and progesterone in mares during the estrous-cycle and early-pregnancy. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 54 (11), 1929-1934.
1993
Journal Article
Absence of diurnal-variation in serum progesterone concentrations in mares
Perkins, N.R., Threlfall, W.R. and Ottobre, J.S. (1993). Absence of diurnal-variation in serum progesterone concentrations in mares. Theriogenology, 39 (6), 1353-1365. doi: 10.1016/0093-691x(93)90237-y
1993
Journal Article
Mastitis in the mare
Perkins, N. R. and Threlfall, W. R. (1993). Mastitis in the mare. Equine Veterinary Education, 5 (4), 192-195. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.1993.tb01043.x
1992
Journal Article
Uterine Torsion and uterine tear in a mare
Perkins, N.R., Robertson, J.T. and Colon, L.A. (1992). Uterine Torsion and uterine tear in a mare. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 201 (1), 92-94.
1990
Journal Article
Pathways of lymph flow from superficial tissues in the legs of horses
Perkins, N. R. and Heath, T. J. (1990). Pathways of lymph flow from superficial tissues in the legs of horses. Research in Veterinary Science, 48 (1), 119-123. doi: 10.1016/s0034-5288(18)31521-2
1989
Journal Article
Breed differences in biparietal diameters of second trimester Toggenbubrg, Nubian and Angora goat fetuses
Haibel, G.K., Perkins, N.R. and Lidl, G.M. (1989). Breed differences in biparietal diameters of second trimester Toggenbubrg, Nubian and Angora goat fetuses. Theriogenology, 32 (5), 827-834. doi: 10.1016/0093-691x(89)90471-8
1989
Journal Article
Real-time ultrasonic biparietal diameter of 2nd trimester Suffolk and Finn sheep fetuses and prediction of gestational-age
Haibel, G. K. and Perkins, N. R. (1989). Real-time ultrasonic biparietal diameter of 2nd trimester Suffolk and Finn sheep fetuses and prediction of gestational-age. Theriogenology, 32 (5), 863-869. doi: 10.1016/0093-691x(89)90474-3
1989
Journal Article
Pathways between lymph vessels and sinuses in lymph nodes: A study in horses
Heath, Trevor J. and Perkins, Nigel R. (1989). Pathways between lymph vessels and sinuses in lymph nodes: A study in horses. The Anatomical Record, 223 (4), 420-424. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092230411
1985
Journal Article
Effect of development of the ovine forestomachs on the anatomy of portal vessels and on the intrahepatic distribution of portal blood
Heath, T. J. and Perkins, N. R. (1985). Effect of development of the ovine forestomachs on the anatomy of portal vessels and on the intrahepatic distribution of portal blood. Research in Veterinary Science, 39 (2), 216-221. doi: 10.1016/s0034-5288(18)31748-x
Conference Publication
Stage of pregnancy and foetal loss following exposure of mares to processionary caterpillars
Cawdell-Smith, A.J., Todhunter, K.H., Perkins, N.R. and Bryden, W.L. Stage of pregnancy and foetal loss following exposure of mares to processionary caterpillars. United States,
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Nigel Perkins is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Applying Human Factors to Improve Patient Safety in Veterinary Medicine
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Wendy Goodwin
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Survey and experimental investigation into the role of workload intensity on dorsal metacarpal disease risk and third metacarpal adaptation to treadmill exercise in young horses
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Detection and epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii infection in beef cattle in northern Australia and the potential risk to public health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Justine Gibson
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2025
Master Philosophy
Objective method of estimation of Buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua) load on cattle and surveillance of status of insecticide resistance in these flies.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Swaid Abdullah
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries, Fatalities and Retirements in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ben Ahern
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Pathology of Equine Amnionitis and Foetal Loss: Clinical and Experimental Studies
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Equine Amnionitis and Foetal Loss: The Role of Caterpillars
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The manipulation of nutrition during pregnancy in the heifer and its effect on metabolic hormones, placental development, milk production, post partum oestrus and the reproductive development of the offspring
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Aged Horse Health, Management and Welfare
Associate Advisor
Media
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