Skip to main content
  1. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
  2. Research
  3. Research Groups
  4. Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

Veterinary Anatomic Pathology

HomeCapabilitiesPeopleProjects

Veterinary anatomic pathologists study the nature and causes of disease in animals. This entails examination of tissues and body systems with both the naked eye and microscopes, often in combination with other disciplines like clinical pathology, microbiology and molecular biology to determine causes, severity and prognosis of disease in an animal or in a group of animals, and to uncover newly recognised and emerging diseases.

The Veterinary Anatomic Pathology group in the Melbourne Veterinary School combines diagnostic services and anatomic pathology research with teaching in our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

The diagnostic service encompasses processing and histopathological interpretation of biopsies, including immunohistochemistry and a variety of histochemical stains, and necropsies for a large range of species including dogs, cats, horses, livestock, birds, reptiles, wildlife and zoo animals.

More information on the group's histology capability and access to services can be found here.

News and events

Loading...

Contact the team

    Research

  1. Professor Amir Hadjinoormohammadi

    Head of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology and Professor in Avian Medicine

    Email: amirh@unimelb.edu.au

    Phone: +613 8001 2481

  2. Histology

  3. Mrs Faye Docherty

    Histopathology Laboratory Manager

    Email: f.docherty@unimelb.edu.au

    Phone: +613 8001 2481

  4. Training & Residency Program

  5. Dr Richard Ploeg

    Senior Lecturer, Coordinator of Training & Residency in Anatomic Pathology

    Email: richard.ploeg@unimelb.edu.au

    Phone: +613 8001 2481

  6. Diagnostic Pathology

  7. For general enquiries related to the submission of diagnostic specimens, please contact:

    Email: anat-vet@unimelb.edu.au

    Phone: +613 8001 2562

The team applies advanced veterinary anatomic pathology techniques to deliver high-quality research, histology and post-mortem services for partners in animal health, education, racing and agricultural industries.

  • Post-mortem services

    Post-mortem examination is a diagnostic technique used to detect disease in deceased animals.

  • Histology services

    The Histopathology Laboratory uses state-of-the-art facilities to produce high-quality microscopic sections of paraffin embedded material.

Our researchers and graduate research (PhD/MPhil) students.

Our people

    Group leader

  1. Professor Amir Hadjinoormohammadi

    Head of Veterinary Anatomic Pathology and Professor in Avian Medicine

    Professor Amir Hadjinoormohammadi has led various research projects on molecular diagnosis, epidemiology and control of avian pathogens including Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, Chlamydophila spp, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, infectious bronchitis virus and fowl adenoviruses.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • amirh@unimelb.edu.au
  2. Group academic staff

  3. Associate Professor Jenny Charles

    Associate Professor in Veterinary Pathology

    Associate Professor Jenny Charles is the Director of Academic Programs, and Chair of the Learning and Teaching Committee for the Melbourne Veterinary School. Her pathology interests include disorders of the liver, pancreas, and cardiovascular and reproductive systems of domestic animals, diseases of New World camelids, causes of wastage in the horse racing industry, and applied aspects of clinical pathology..

    • Find an Expert profile
    • charlesj@unimelb.edu.au
  4. Dr Richard Ploeg

    Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology

    Dr Richard Ploeg’s academic experience includes periods at the University of Melbourne, Utrecht University, and Texas A&M University but he also has had considerable experience as a commercial diagnostic pathologist. Richard’s experience makes him an expert in surgical pathology but he also has a real passion for gross pathology, in particular the macroscopic-microscopic interface. His special interest area is hematopoietic disease but he also has a strong interest in wildlife pathology with an emerging passion for diseases of reptiles.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • richard.ploeg@unimelb.edu.au
  5. Dr Smitha Georgy

    Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology

    Dr Smitha Georgy graduated from Kerala Agricultural university, India and proceeded to work in mixed animal practice under Government. She moved to Australia in 2006 and undertook PhD from The University of Melbourne. Smitha then worked as a research scientist in the Department of Medicine, Monash University. In 2015, she completed National Veterinary Examination and started small animal practice in Melbourne. Her research interests are epithelial cancers affecting skin, oral cavity and oesophagus.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • s.georgy@unimelb.edu.au
  6. Dr Panayiotis (Panos) Loukopoulos

    Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology

    Dr Panos Loukopoulos’ main research interests lie in tumour pathology. His experience includes work on human cancer genomics at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, 12 years as an academic at Aristotle University and Charles Sturt University and work at the California Animal Health and Food Safety lab of the University of California Davis, a leading diagnostic lab focusing on equine and farm animal pathology. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (JVDI) and an Associate Editor of the Australian Veterinary Journal.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • panos.loukopoulos@unimelb.edu.au
  7. Dr Yuchi Chen

    Tutor in Veterinary Pathology

    Dr Yuchi Chen’s experience includes a mixed role as clinical pathologist, veterinarian consultant and business manager in Shanghai for more than five years, which included a high volume of cases, the publication of 30 articles and one book chapter and the translation and delivery of over 200 lectures. He is currently completing a PhD study regarding the aetiopathogenesis of hepatogenous photosensitisation caused by Panicum spp. in livestock at Charles Sturt University.

    • Find an Expert profile
    • yuchi.chen@unimelb.edu.au
  8. Group professional staff

  9. Mrs Faye Docherty

    Histopathology Laboratory Manager

    As a medical laboratory scientist, Faye has over 35 years of experience working in many facets of histopathology including diagnostic, research and teaching, and has proudly managed two histology facilities during her 20 year career at the University of Melbourne.  As a member of FVAS for the past 10 years, she has applied this experience to all things Vet Path, both great and small, and is fascinated by the pathological variations between species and in particular how this relates to Immunohistochemistry.

    • f.docherty@unimelb.edu.au
  10. Mirjana Bogeski

    Histopathology Technician

    • mirjana.bogeski@unimelb.edu.au
  11. Graduate research students

  12. Mr Damilola Omotainse

    PhD Candidate

    Immune responses to Mycoplasma synoviae vaccination and infection.

    • oluwadamilola.omotainse@unimelb.edu.au
  13. Ms Udari Perera

    PhD Candidate

    Comparative study between murine and sheep models of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis.

    • udari.perera@unimelb.edu.au

The Veterinary Anatomic Pathology group works with a range of partners and collaborators to investigate animal health and disease.

Research projects

    https://cms.unimelb.edu.au/central-site-management/content-templates/news-listing/v4-assets-dynamic-loading/v4-list-parent-id-new?rootnode=3274292&template=block-listing&numAssets=4&readMore=false
Loading...

Show more

Completed projects

    https://cms.unimelb.edu.au/central-site-management/content-templates/news-listing/v4-assets-dynamic-loading/v4-list-parent-id-new?rootnode=3274183&template=block-listing&numAssets=12&readMore=false
Loading...

Show more

  • Staff Intranet
  • Contact Us

Support FVAS Donate Today


  • FVAS Facebook
  • FVAS Twitter
  • FVAS Instagram

Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences

  • Study
    • Our Courses
    • Breadth
      • Breadth Subjects at Dookie
      • Australia in the Wine World
      • Insects Shaping Society
      • Beer: Theory and Craft
      • Feeding the World's Population
      • Living with Animals
      • Wine and Food
      • Feeding the World's Population
    • Honours
    • Scholarships
      • FVAS Scholarships
      • FVAS Prizes
      • Other scholarships and funding opportunities
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • Student Accommodation
      • Dookie Campus
    • Pre-Vet Club
    • Graduate Mentoring
    • Dookie Mentoring
  • News
    • Paddock-to-plate workshop explores ways to use native ingredients for the future of food
    • New agriculture degree sees graduates ready for the ‘boom century’
    • U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital and Werribee campus redevelopment
    • Dookie Day 2017
    • Clinical trial: Investigation of stem cells as treatment for spinal cord injuries in dogs
    • Dookie Day 2018 opens the University of Melbourne's agricultural campus to the community
    • New Technology Applications for Agriculture: Going Beyond Awareness
    • Dookie campus produce for sale
    • Call for donors: cats to help other cats at new feline blood bank
    • Dog blood saves sick cat's life ahead of opening of new feline blood bank
    • Calling to dog owners for canine CPR research study
    • Bachelor of Agriculture Capstone Showcase 2018
    • Research Week showcases veterinary, agricultural and food science collaboration
    • 2018 Academic promotions reflect push for gender equality in universities
    • New professor boosts Melbourne's precision agriculture research and teaching
    • University of Melbourne opens new $100 million life sciences complex in Melbourne’s biomedical precinct
    • Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Awards Night 2019
    • Students and community to benefit from veterinary campus expansion
    • Melbourne Veterinary School Learning and Teaching Building Opening
    • Surgery success for one of Australia’s oldest lions
    • Dookie Day explores the future of agriculture and the Goulburn Valley region’s Indigenous heritage
    • Microwaves put the heat on herbicide resistant weeds
    • What is conservation medicine, and why is it important?
    • Agriculture students present solutions to issues facing industry
    • Study investigates suitable rootstocks for Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
    • New book explores the perspectives of the first women to study at Dookie
    • The University of Melbourne: Bushfire response
    • New project to help prevent spread of animal to human diseases
    • Work needed to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on Australian dairy cows, research reveals
    • Researchers call for rigorous wildlife surveillance to prevent disease outbreak
    • Bite-sized lecture: The science behind sourdough
    • Take a virtual tour of our campuses at Dookie, Parkville and Werribee
    • The 2020 Dungala Kaiela Oration
    • Using environmental DNA to help stop frogs from croaking it
    • Hyperspectral insight provides early warning of threatening crop disease
    • Paddock-to-plate workshop explores incorporating native ingredients for the future of food
    • The perfect storm: How can we feed the world without wrecking the planet?
    • $2.5 million for regional Victoria to support agricultural innovation
    • Australian-produced eucalyptus compound effective at treating lung damage in sheep model
    • Does your dog have osteoarthritis?
    • Faculty representatives join University delegation to India
    • Faculty representatives join University delegation to India
  • Events
  • Research
    • Our facilities and capabilities
      • Nutrient and resource recovery from agricultural and urban wastes using novel technologies
      • Soil node – Melbourne TrACEES Platform
      • Novel smart fertiliser technologies
      • State-of-the-art instruments for trace gas measurements using micrometeorological techniques
      • Deep and machine learning modelling based on remote sensing for Livestock identification and welfare assessment
      • UAV‐based remote sensing and GIS mapping of crops and produce assessment
      • Artificial intelligence/machine learning agriculture, food and animal sciences
      • Robotics, sensory evaluation/biometrics and machine learning modelling for brewages
      • Computer application development for agriculture, food and wine sciences
      • Advanced analytical platforms for plant physiology, climate change, sensory technologies and robotics
      • Smoke taint analysis
      • Screening and characterisation of bioactive compounds and their analysis
      • Phytochemical biological activity evaluation and targeted delivery
      • Airborne Remote Sensing Facility
      • Wildlife Health Toolkit
      • Wildlife disease outbreak investigation
      • Development of management strategies for existing disease issues
      • High-throughput quantitative PCR for soil molecular biology
      • DNA extraction for soil molecular biology
      • Measurement of insulin resistance in horses
      • In vitro characterisation of ruminant feeds and supplements
      • In vivo assessment of feed supplements in production animals (dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry)
      • Climate controlled production animal studies
      • Rumen metagenomics and enteric methane emission reduction
      • Engaged-social science research
      • Co-innovation
      • Advice, policy formation and capacity building
      • Crop trials at scale, agronomy, nutritional profiling and breeding
      • Vertical farming in a fully controlled soilless environment
      • Microwave applicator systems and evaluation of microwave and plasma treatment of materials
      • Use of crops for dairying production
      • Greenhouse gas emissions identification and mitigation from international livestock production
      • Gender Analysis and Gender Mainstreaming for agricultural and rural industries
      • Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) and livelihoods impact assessments
      • Identification of fungal species
      • Post-mortem services
      • Histology services
    • Research Centres
      • Animal Welfare Science Centre
      • ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers
      • Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health
      • Centre for Equine Infectious Disease
      • Healthy Soils for Sustainable Food Production and Environmental Quality
      • The Mackinnon Project
      • OIE Collaborating Centre for Diagnostic Test Validation Science in the Asia-Pacific Region
      • Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
      • Unlocking the Food Value Chain
    • Research Groups
      • Agricultural and Urban Waste Management
      • Analytics, Modelling and Technology
      • Animal Production
      • Bone and Muscle Cell Biology
      • Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine
      • Food Chemistry and Microbiology
      • Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change
      • Hyperspectral and Thermal Remote Sensing Laboratory (HyperSens)
      • Nutrient Management
      • One Health Research Group
      • Parasitology
      • Plant Pathology
      • Protein Foods
      • Rural Innovation Research Group
      • Smart Fertilisers
      • Soil-Plant Microbiomes
      • Sustainable Agricultural Production
      • Taking the Query out of Q Fever
      • Veterinary Epidemiology @ Melbourne
      • Veterinary Inflammation and Metabolism
      • Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
      • Foodprint Melbourne
    • Partner or collaborate with us
    • Graduate Research
    • Research Projects
      • Health, welfare and biosecurity of livestock exposed to Australian bushfires
    • Learning and Teaching
    • Research Week
  • Alumni
    • News & Pursuit
    • Reunions
    • Alumni Profiles
    • Professional Development
    • Alumni Benefits
    • Update your details
  • Support Us
    • How can I make a gift?
      • Support the Dr Robert Neville McCarthy Scholarship
    • Impact
    • Dookie Fund
    • Animal Pain Management & Rehabilitation Fund
    • A fruitful philanthropic partnership between LMCF and FVAS
  • About Us
    • About Our Faculty
    • Accreditation
    • Contact Us
  • Current Students
    • Current Students
    • Guide to your course
    • Enrich your study
      • Cross-institutional Study
      • Exchange and Study Abroad
      • Intensive subjects at Dookie
      • Internships
      • Mentoring programs
      • Research Project Subjects
      • Dookie Semester
      • Honours
    • Student life and support
      • FVAS Student Award for Diversity and Inclusion Excellence 2022
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Scholarships, awards and prizes
      • Support services
      • Wellbeing Grants
  • Dookie
  • Graduate Research
  • Research Themes
  • Graduate researchers: Sign up for internal communications
  • Current Students
  • Library
  • Staff