ProfessorDamien Higgins

BVSc, M Vet Stud (Wild Animal Medicine & Husbandry), PhD

Damien Higgins' research program integrates pathology, immunology, and disease ecology to define impacts and drivers of disease emergence in wildlife; particularly those experiencing habitat fragmentation and degradation, our most prevalent threatening process.

His past areas of research in koalas have covered diversity of chlamydial strains in fragmented habitat; koala immune gene diversity and association with disease; impact of eucalypt toxins on immune function; risk factors for koala morbidity, based on hospital admissions; and evidence of koala retrovirus- associated changes in immune profiles of koalas. His primary interests are now around integrating those into whole of system studies to determine disease drivers and impacts and inform disease risk assessment for koala management.

His teaching covers general pathology and mechanisms of disease; laboratory disease investigation; wildlife disease ecology, surveillance, and management; and threatened species management.

Since 2014 he has directed the Koala Health Hub, which provides free diagnostic services and expertise to koala care groups and facilitates training, communication, and collaboration among 200+ academic, local state and federal government, peak body, koala care and community group representatives.

Damien also currently directs Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services (VPDS) in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. Through provision of high-quality diagnostic services to clinics and researchers, VPDS supports teaching and research at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels.