MU Veterinarian Garners
Honor Down Under

Dr. Robert C. Backus, College of Veterinary Medicine assistant professor, received the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists’ Most Commendable Paper award for 2008.

The award was given to his paper titled, “Oestradiol and genistein reduce food intake in male and female overweight cats after gonadectomy” which was extramurally funded and served as a doctoral dissertation for a veterinarian from New Zealand, Dr. Nick Cave. It was published in New Zealand Veterinary Journal during 2007.

“It’s nice to be recognized and for MU to be recognized,” Backus said. “But it’s very important that Nick Cave be recognized as well. He’s a very intelligent clinician and researcher.”

Backus’ work, including the awarded paper, centers on the treatment and prevention of obesity in companion animals, specifically cats. He says that through his work he has come to appreciate how the neutering and spaying of animals is such an influential factor in obesity.

“Oestradiol and genistein reduce food intake in male and female overweight cats after gonadectomy” focused specifically on a compound in soy, genistein, which potentially could be used to replace estrogen lost with neutering and facilitate weight loss in overweight cats. Backus says that through the publicity and through additional research he would like to further explore estrogen replacement as a means to prevent and treat obesity.

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