Dr Alexandra Whittaker
Alexandra Whittaker is a veterinary scientist and physiologist with an interest in animal welfare, animal behaviour assessment and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. Her animal welfare interests particularly focus on the assessment of positive welfare outcomes through use of cognitive assessment strategies. Current research aims to develop methods which can have practical application in the animal industries.
Her physiology research is investigating the inflammation-modulating role of opioids in gastrointestinal conditions, and the interaction between this and analgesic effectiveness.
I am interested in physiological and behavioural measures indicative of animal welfare, particularly in the context of intensive animal production and laboratory animal management. My other main interest is in the use of analgesics in clinical practice and as a refinement strategy for routine animal husbandry procedures. Specific areas of interest include:
- Effects of routine animal management on well-being- especially inputs of space and enclosure complexity on behavioural and physiological indicators of well-being.
- Effects of husbandry refinements on well-being.
- Assessment of positive welfare outcomes.
- Pain assessment in laboratory animals and comparison of therapeutics.
- Use of animals in teaching- refinement strategies.
- The legal status of animals- effects on attitudes towards them and their treatment
http://houseofmind.tumblr.com/post/18779434067/list-astrocyte-functions
Appointments
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Senior Lecturer | The University of Adelaide |
| 2008 - 2016 | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
Awards and Achievements
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Edith Dornwell Medal for Early Career Research Excellence | Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide | ||
| 2016 | Certificate of Scientific Accomplishment as an Early Stage Investigator | American Gastroenterological Association | ||
| 2016 | Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence | The University of Adelaide |
Education
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2017 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) |
| 2012 - 2015 | University of New England | Australia | LLB (Hons) |
| 2011 - 2016 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2011 - 2012 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (GCOL) |
| 2010 - 2012 | Charles Sturt University | Australia | MBA |
| 2002 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | MA |
| 1998 - 2001 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | VetMB |
| 1995 - 1998 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | BA |
Certifications
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ECAWBM-AW | European College of Veterinary Surgeons | |
| 2011 | Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science | Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | |
| 2009 | Diploma in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law | Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |
Keywords
Animal Behaviour, Animal Physiology _ Systems, Chemotherapy, Humane Animal Treatment, Law and Legal Studies
Journals
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Stillman,M, Whittaker,AL, 2017, The use and efficacy of analgesic agents in sheep utilised as models in biomedical research, Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, - |
| 2017 | Barker,TH, Bobrovskaya,L, Howarth,GS, Whittaker,AL, 2017, Female rats display fewer optimistic responses in a judgment bias test in the absence of a physiological stress response., Physiol Behav, 173, 124-131 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.02.006 |
| 2016 | Whittaker,A, Vine,M, 2016, The price of a four-legged friend: non-economic damage award in Australian pet litigation, Tort Law Review, 24, 2, 99-123 |
| 2016 | Barker,TH, Howarth,GS, Whittaker,AL, 2016, The effects of metabolic cage housing and sex on cognitive bias expression in rats, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 177, 70-76 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.01.018 |
| 2016 | Whittaker,AL, Leach,MC, Preston,FL, Lymn,KA, Howarth,GS, 2016, Effects of acute chemotherapy-induced mucositis on spontaneous behaviour and the grimace scale in laboratory rats., Lab Anim, 50, 2, 108-118 10.1177/0023677215595554 |
| 2016 | Whittaker,A, Lymn,K, Howarth,G, 2016, Effects of Metabolic Cage Housing on Rat Behavior and Performance in the Social Interaction Test, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 19, 4, 363-374 10.1080/10888705.2016.1164048 |
| 2015 | Whittaker,AL, Lymn,KA, Nicholson,A, Howarth,GS, 2015, The assessment of general well-being using spontaneous burrowing behaviour in a short-term model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in the rat., Lab Anim, 49, 1, 30-39 10.1177/0023677214546913 |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, 2015, Halal Certification:Food for thought? (Opinion piece), Australian Animal Protection Law Journal, 10, 37-38 |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, Plush,KJ, Terry,R, Hughes,PE, Kennaway,DJ, Van Wettere,WHEJ, 2015, Effects of space allocation and parity on selected physiological and behavioural measures of well-being and reproductive performance in group-housed gestating sows, Livestock Science, 176, 161-165 10.1016/j.livsci.2015.03.007 |
| 2015 | Francisco,C, Howarth,G, Whittaker,A, 2015, Effects on animal wellbeing and sample quality of 2 techniques for collecting blood from the facial vein of mice, Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animals, 54, 1, 76-80 |
| 2015 | Vaughan,LM, Kloppers,MP, Whittaker,AL, 2015, The influence of bilateral preputialectomy on aggressive behaviour, and incidence of aggression-related injury, in group-housed male Swiss mice, Animal Technology and Welfare, 14, 2, 77-84 |
| 2014 | Whittaker,A, Howarth,G, 2014, Use of spontaneous behaviour measures to assess pain in laboratory rats and mice: how are we progressing?, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 151, 1-12 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.11.001 |
| 2014 | Vaughan,L, Dawson,J, Porter,P, Whittaker,A, 2014, Castration promotes welfare in group-housed male Swiss outbred mice maintained in educational institutions, Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 53, 1, 38-43 |
| 2014 | Whittaker,A, 2014, Incorporation of a stand-alone elective course in animal law within animal and veterinary science curricula, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 41, 1, 55-59 10.3138/jvme.0113-001R1 |
| 2014 | Whittaker,A, 2014, Animal research regulation in Australia - does it pass the test of robustness?, Global Journal of Animal Law, 1, 1-14 |
| 2014 | Whittaker,AL, Howarth,GS, Lymn,KA, 2014, Evaluation of Facebook© to create an online learning community in an undergraduate animal science class, Educational Media International, 51, 2, 135-145 10.1080/09523987.2014.924664 |
| 2013 | Whittaker,A, 2013, Animal law teaching in non-law disciplines: incorporation in animal and veterinary science curricula, Australian Animal Protection Law Journal, 9, 113-115 |
| 2013 | Whittaker,A, Anderson,G, 2013, A policy at the University of Adelaide for student objections to the use of animals in teaching, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 40, 1, 52-57 10.3138/jvme.0411.045R1 |
| 2012 | Whittaker,A, Howarth,G, Hickman,D, 2012, Effects of space allocation and housing density on measures of wellbeing in laboratory mice: a review, Laboratory Animals, 46, 1, 3-13 10.1258/la.2011.011049 |
| 2012 | Terry,R, Van Wettere,W, Whittaker,A, Herde,P, Howarth,G, 2012, Using the noninvasive ¹³C-sucrose breath test to measure intestinal sucrase activity in swine, Comparative Medicine, 62, 6, 504-507 |
| 2012 | Whittaker,A, Noonan,D, Chew,F, 2012, Investigation of training and development options for research and teaching animal users: a case study, Animal Technology and Welfare, 11, 1, 21-21-29,33,36,39 |
| 2012 | Whittaker,A, Van Wettere,W, Hughes,P, 2012, Space requirements to optimize welfare and performance in group housed pigs: a review, American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 7, 2, 48-54 10.3844/ajavsp.2012.48.54 |
Conference Items
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Whittaker,AL, Bajic,JE, Bobrovskaya,L, Hutchinson,MR, Howarth,GS, 2016, Chemotherapy Induces Intestinal Inflammation and Central Changes Which Are Modified by Analgesics via Neuro-Immune Mechanisms, 57th Annual Meeting and Residents Fellow Conference of the Society-for-Surgery-of-the-Alimentary-Tract (SSAT) / 52nd Annual Meeting on Digestive Disease Week (DDW) / Meeting of the American-Gastroenterological-Association (AGA), San Diego, CA 10.1016/S0016-5085(16)30301-8 |
| 2016 | Bajic,J, Whittaker,A, Bobrovskaya,L, Hutchinson,M, Howarth,G, 2016, Intestinal mucositis induced by 5-Fluorouracil results in glial changes modified by analgesics via neuro-immune mechanisms, Australian Society for Medical Research, Adelaide |
| 2016 | Bajic,JE, Whittaker,AL, Bobrovskaya,L, Hutchinson,MR, Howarth,GS, 2016, Intestinal mucositis induced by 5-Fluorouracil results in glial changes modified by analgesics via neuro-immune mechanisms, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer, Adelaide |
| 2016 | Barker,T, Howarth,G, Whittaker,A, 2016, Correlation between cognitive bias and other measures of stress in rats, International Society for Applied Ethology, Edinburgh |
| 2016 | George,R, Barker,T, Howarth,G, Whittaker,A, 2016, Mice do not exhibit pessimistic judgement biases in response to metabolic cage housing: reflection on housing type of cognitive bias methodologies., Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Conference, Auckland |
| 2016 | George,R, Barker,T, Howarth,G, Whittaker,A, 2016, Mice do not exhibit pessimistic judgement biases in response to metabolic cage housing: reflection on housing type or cognitive bias methodologies., Australian Society for Medical Research, Adelaide |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, Preston,F, Lymn,K, Howarth,G, 2015, Addressing the translational validity of animal models of chemotherapy-induced mucositis; the assessment of pain using behaviour and the rat grimace scale., Australian Society for Medical Research (SA Chapter), Adelaide |
| 2015 | 2015, Abstracts of the 2015 International MASCC/ISOO Symposium 10.1007/s00520-015-2712-y |
| 2015 | Lymn,KA, Howarth,GS, Whittaker,AL, 2015, The use of different classes of analgesic in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis:A technician’s perspective, Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Conference, Adelaide |
| 2015 | Stillman,M, Whittaker,AL, 2015, Analgesia in the sheep as an animal model, Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Conference, Adelaide |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, 2015, Is there a nexus between animal welfare science and legal reform?, Animal Law Workshop, Monash University |
| 2015 | Francisco,CC, Howarth,GS, Whittaker,AL, 2015, Effects on Animal Wellbeing and Sample Quality of Two Techniques for Collecting Blood from the Facial Vein of Mice., Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association, Adelaide |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, Leach,MC, Preston,FL, Lymn,KA, Howarth,GS, 2015, The assessment of pain using behaviour and the rat grimace scale in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis., Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Asociation, Adelaide |
| 2015 | Whittaker,A, Franceschilli,T, 2015, An Instructor’s Reflections on the Use of a Video Assessment Tool for Group Project Work, HERGA, Adelaide |
| 2014 | Mashtoub,S, Feo,B, Whittaker,A, Lymn,K, Martinez-Puig,D, Howarth,G, 2014, Oral nucleotides only minimally improve 5-fluorouracil-induced mucositis in rats, 2014 World Cancer Congress Abstracts, Broadbeach, Qld. 10.1111/jgh.12736_2 |
| 2014 | Mashtoub,S, Feo,B, Whittaker,AL, Lymn,KA, Martinez-Puig,D, Howarth,GS, 2014, Oral Nucleotides Partially Attenuate 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Mucositis in Rats., Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, Miami |
| 2014 | Whittaker,A, Lymn,KA, Nicholson,A, Howarth,GS, 2014, The Assessment of General Wellbeing Using Spontaneous Burrowing Behaviour in a Short- Term Model of Chemotherapy-induced Mucositis in the Rat., Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association, Canberra |
| 2014 | Whittaker,A, 2014, Animal law teaching in non-law disciplines: incorporation in animal and veterinary science curricula, Animal Law Workshop, Goldcoast, Australia |
| 2014 | Vaughan,LV, Kloppers,M, Whittaker,AL, 2014, Influence of preputialectomy on aggression and injury in group-housed male Swiss mice, Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association, Canberra, Australia |
| 2014 | Mashtoub,S, Feo,B, Whittaker,AL, Lymn,KA, Martinez-Puig,D, Howarth,GS, 2014, Oral Nucleotides Partially Attenuate 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Mucositis in Rats. Poster Presentation P36., Australian Society for Medical Research (SA Chapter), Adelaide |
| 2013 | Whittaker,A, 2013, Aggression and laboratory mouse welfare, Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association, Perth, Australia |
| 2012 | Whittaker,A, 2012, A review of the effects of space allocation and housing density on measures of wellbeing in laboratory mice, Australian and New Zealand Council for the care of animals in research and teaching (ANZCCART), Perth |
| 2011 | Whittaker,A, 2011, Regulation of Laboratory Animal Care and Use: An International Perspective |
| 2010 | Whittaker,A, 2010, Researcher animal ethics training at the University of Adelaide, Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Science Week |
| 2010 | Whittaker,A, Noonan,D, Chew,F, 2010, Investigation of training and development options for research and teaching animal users, Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association |
| 2009 | Whittaker,A, 2009, Teaching Animal Welfare in an Integrated Veterinary Curriculum, Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Science Week, Goldcoast, Australia |
| 2008 | Whittaker,A, 2008, Investigating alternatives to the use of animals in veterinary undergraduate teaching, Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association, Sydney |
Theses
| Date | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Whittaker,A; 2015; The Price of a Four-Legged Friend: Non-economic damage award in pet litigation |
Current PhD Students
Mr Timothy Barker- Cognitive bias as a measure of rodent emotional state and welfare
Ms Rebecca George- The role of Opioids in modulating inflammation in chemotherapy-induced mucositis
Current Honours Students
Ms Peta Groves- The role of empathy in influencing cognitive biasing
Memberships
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Member | International Society for Applied Ethology |
Editorial Boards
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Board Member | Australian Animal Protection Law Journal | Australia |
Position
Lecturer
Phone
83137868
Fax
8313 7956
Campus
Roseworthy
Building
Corridor Block
Room Number
G 04
Org Unit
School of Animal and Veterinary Science