John Finnie

Associate Professor John Finnie

University Veterinarian

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research)

Division of Research and Innovation

A/Professor Finnie is a veterinary anatomic pathologist with an academic appointment in the School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide. His experience in diagnostic and investigative pathology encompasses gross and histopathology, ultrastructural pathology, immunohistochemistry, and toxicologic, comparative and laboratory animal pathology.

Dr Finnie graduated with Biomedical Science and Veterinary Medicine degrees from the Universities of Adelaide and Melbourne, respectively, before completing a residency in anatomic pathology at the Melbourne Veterinary School. He has Master’s degrees from Adelaide and Flinders University Medical Schools, and a PhD from the Melbourne University Veterinary School, in neuropathology, particularly ultrastructural pathology of the nervous system. His contributions to veterinary and comparative neuropathology have been recognised, by examination, with a Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne and Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Professor Finnie has a strong research interest in the pathology and pathogenesis of neurologic diseases, with a major focus on brain lesions that can be diagnostically useful. These studies encompass naturally occurring neurologic disorders of domestic animal species and the development of animal models of human nervous system diseases. The principal neurologic diseases he has investigated are traumatic brain injury (blunt, non-missile, missile, and paediatric abusive head trauma), tunicamycin/corynetoxin and Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin neurotoxicity and retinopathy, neuroaxonal dystrophy, riboflavin deficiency-induced demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, neurologic effects of radiofrequency field exposure, and forensic neuropathology. He has published more than 200 papers in international biomedical journals and received support for these studies from a range of state and national research funding bodies. Dr Finnie is Chief Investigator (University of Adelaide) of the NH&MRC Centre of Research Excellence, the Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research. He has supervised higher degree research students, provided pathology support to many postgraduate students and clinicians, and is a consultant pathologist to the Phenomics Australia laboratory animal histopathology service.

Dr Finnie has been Director of the South Australian South-East Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Naracoorte; Senior Veterinary Pathologist at the Veterinary Research Institute in Melbourne and the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS) in Adelaide; Manager of the IMVS (now SA Pathology) Laboratory Animal Facility; and University Veterinarian at SA Pathology, Adelaide Women’s & Children’s Hospital, and the University of Adelaide.

Associate Professor John Finnie

 

Researcher profile

 

A/Professor Finnie is a veterinary anatomic pathologist with an academic appointment in the School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide. His experience in diagnostic and investigative pathology encompasses gross and histopathology, ultrastructural pathology, immunohistochemistry, and toxicologic, comparative and laboratory animal pathology.

Dr Finnie graduated with Biomedical Science and Veterinary Medicine degrees from the Universities of Adelaide and Melbourne, respectively, before completing a residency in anatomic pathology at the Melbourne Veterinary School. He has Master’s degrees from Adelaide and Flinders University Medical Schools, and a PhD from the Melbourne University Veterinary School, in neuropathology, particularly ultrastructural pathology of the nervous system. His contributions to veterinary and comparative neuropathology have been recognised, by examination, with a Doctor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne and Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Professor Finnie has a strong research interest in the pathology and pathogenesis of neurologic diseases, with a major focus on brain lesions that can be diagnostically useful. These studies encompass naturally occurring neurologic disorders of domestic animal species and the development of animal models of human nervous system diseases. The principal neurologic diseases he has investigated are traumatic brain injury (blunt, non-missile, missile, and paediatric abusive head trauma), tunicamycin/corynetoxin and Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin neurotoxicity and retinopathy, neuroaxonal dystrophy, riboflavin deficiency-induced demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, neurologic effects of radiofrequency field exposure, and forensic neuropathology. He has published more than 200 papers in international biomedical journals and received support for these studies from a range of state and national research funding bodies. Dr Finnie is Chief Investigator (University of Adelaide) of the NH&MRC Centre of Research Excellence, the Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research. He has supervised higher degree research students, provided pathology support to many postgraduate students and clinicians, and is a consultant pathologist to the Phenomics Australia laboratory animal histopathology service.

Dr Finnie has been Director of the South Australian South-East Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Naracoorte; Senior Veterinary Pathologist at the Veterinary Research Institute in Melbourne and the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS) in Adelaide; Manager of the IMVS (now SA Pathology) Laboratory Animal Facility; and University Veterinarian at SA Pathology, Adelaide Women’s & Children’s Hospital, and the University of Adelaide.

Qualifications

Doctor of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

Master of Science, University of Adelaide and Flinders University

Bachelor of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Adelaide

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2021 - ongoing University Veterinarian University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2025 Chief Investigator (University of Adelaide) NH&MRC Centre of Research Excellence (ACEBR)
    2010 - ongoing Affiliate Professor/A/Professor University of Adelaide
    1997 - 2020 Veterinary Pathologist Institute of Medical & Veterinary Science (IMVS)
    1991 - 1997 Veterinary Pathologist Central Veterinary Laboratories (VETLAB)
    1988 - 1991 Veterinary Pathologist South East Regional Veterinary Laboratory
    1976 - 1987 Veterinary Pathologist Veterinary Research Institute

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    University of Melbourne Australia Doctor of Veterinary Science
    University of Melbourne Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    Flinders University Australia Master of Science
    University of Adelaide Australia Master of Science
    University of Melbourne Australia Bachelor of Veterinary Science
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours)

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    Residency in anatomic pathology University of Melbourne Australia

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    — Fellowship (by examination) Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons United Kingdom

  • Research Interests
    Neurosciences Veterinary Pathology

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2015 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Cerebrovascular Response to Metastatic Melanoma and Clostridium Perfringens Type D Epsilon Toxin Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Kimberley Anne Mander
    2007 - 2011 Co-Supervisor Cellular Pathology and Apoptosis in Experimental and Human Acute and Chronic Compressive Myelopathy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Rowena Newcombe
  • Position: University Veterinarian
  • Phone: 83134107
  • Email: john.finnie@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Wills, floor 5
  • Org Unit: Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research)
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