The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) and the University of Padova in Padova, Italy, in collaboration with a foundation breeding service dogs for those who are visually impaired, identified a novel variant associated with progressive retinal atrophy in 3 Labrador retrievers.

The findings were recently published in Scientific Reports, and state that a genetic mutation was found in 3 of the 6 littermates affected by progressive retinal atrophy, 2 males and 1 female. The 3 patients were brought to the attention of 2 Penn Vet doctors, Leonardo Murgiano, PhD, and Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD, DACVO, as well as their collaborators by a foundation that breeds service dogs for visually impaired human patients. Besides these 3 cases, no other dogs within the breeding program were reported to present with comparable vision deficits or retinal abnormalities.

“We have been providing services to guide dog organizations since 1989,” explained Aguirre, in an organizational release.

 “When these organizations reach out to us, our aim is to find the mutation and develop a diagnostic test for it so that they can use it to breed dogs without this condition in the future.”

According to the study, researchers identified a 3-bp deletion in the coding region of GTPBP2, a gene that encodes a G-protein expressed in several tissues—which includes the canine retina.

 The deletion was then linked to the loss of a highly conserved alanine outside of the GTPase domain of GTPBP2, where the protein’s activity is regulated, "toggling it on and off." This indicates that the loss of this alanine affects a different aspect of the protein, potentially the cellular localization.

An analysis of 569 Labrador retrievers from the general population of the United States as well as 91 non-affected Labrador retrievers from the same kennel was conducted and identified 16 carriers, all from the original kennel. All of the other canines were wild-type, as in they carried the "normal" version of the gene, emphasizing this variant’s rarity.

When it comes to humans, this gene mutation has been reported, but the GTPBP2 genetic variants are typically associated with Jaberi-Elahi syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disease.

 The human patients with the mutations normally present with neurologic and morphologic abnormalities as well as intellectual disabilities. For the canine patients, unlike humans with the same mutation, they presented with no other symptoms other than retinal degeneration/blindness.

“What we report here is a variant that appears to be less severe in our dogs than what is reported in humans, possibly occurring in a different region of the protein—closer to its terminal part,” Murgiano concluded.

“We have observed this before in genes attributed to syndromes—not all mutations in those genes lead to syndromes. Phenotypes can be flexible, and what we report here is an example of a flexible phenotype. This could have relevance in a general medical genetics landscape.”

New genetic cause of blindness in dogs. News release. Penn Today. March 20, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. 

https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-vet-new-genetic-cause-blindness-dogs?utm_content=Staff&utm_source=Penn+Today+-+Newsletters&utm_campaign=99fe552859-3/21/25:+Inherited+blindness&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-07fd5831a9-45832012

Murgiano L, Niggel JK, Eylem Emek Akyürek, Sacchetto R, Aguirre GD. GTPBP2 in-frame deletion in canine model with non-syndromic progressive retinal atrophy. 

. 2025;15(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89446-7

Manoochehri J, Shiri A, Khoddam S, et al. Jaberi-Elahi syndrome: Exploring a novel GTPBP2 mutation and a literature review. 

. 2024;70:104953. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2024.104953

Articles

Researchers at Penn Vet and the University of Padova identified a novel variant connected to progressive retinal atrophy 

Potential genetic cause of blindness in canines identified 

The veterinary industry faces a critical challenge: As the cost of care rises, access to essential veterinary services is slipping out of reach for many pet families. Veterinary teams witness this daily—pet parents struggling with difficult financial decisions, delaying or forgoing care, and seeking alternatives outside of mainstream practice models. Ensuring that pets receive the care they need requires a deeper understanding of the barriers pet families face and the shifting landscape of veterinary medicine. The challenge is not just affordability, but also availability, flexibility, and trust in a system that must evolve to meet pet parents where they are. How can we, as veterinary professionals and the broader industry, work to build a pet care model that is both inclusive and adaptable?

Understanding the Drivers of Rising Costs 

To address the issue, we must first examine the factors contributing to increasing veterinary costs. Over the past 2 decades, veterinary service inflation has surpassed general inflation rates by > 60% in the consumer price index, making it harder for pet owners to budget for their pets’ health care needs. Several key factors contribute to these rising expenses:

 A competitive job market has driven long-overdue wage increases for veterinarians and support staff.

 Clinics are adjusting pricing models to offset reduced pharmacy revenue from online competition and increased operational costs.

Inflation, supply chain issues, and manufacturer pricing changes have led to increased costs for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

Technological advancements and shifts in care models also play a role:

Cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments: 

New diagnostic and treatment innovations improve pet health outcomes but come with higher costs.

Expanded specialty and referral services: 

Greater access to advanced care means more options but also increased expenses due to the specialized staff, equipment, and facilities required.

A growing focus on advanced-level treatment has created gaps in mid-tier care, leaving some pet families with limited choices between specialty care or basic/no treatment.

While advanced treatment often leads to the best medical results, it’s essential to recognize that specialty care isn’t always feasible or desirable for every pet family.

Practical Strategies for Increasing Access to Care 

Here are 3 ways to support affordability and accessibility without compromising on the need to charge properly for your goods and services:

Educate Pet Owners on Financial Planning Tools. 

When it comes to their pets’ healthcare, families have more financial planning options than ever. They look to you for guidance, so recommending options for things like pet insurance can help ease financial strain. Encouraging teams to stay informed about available solutions can make a big impact. Nationwide’s video series for veterinary health care teams answers FAQs about pet insurance, our coverage, and what makes us different. Find them by visiting petinsurance.com/veterinarians and clicking on Digital Materials.

Providing a range of evidence-based treatment options—from basic to advanced— ensures that pet owners can make informed decisions within their comfort level. Judgment-free communication and flexible care models empower more families to say “yes” to a level of treatment that meets their expectations and their resources. Learn more at 

Rethinking service delivery can improve affordability and efficiency. Consider maintaining a referral list of lower-cost providers, directing minor cases to urgent care, or utilizing telehealth for triage. Emerging models—such as vaccine clinics, outpatient surgery practices, and urgent care centers— are reshaping the landscape, making veterinary care more accessible for a broader range of pet families. There is mounting evidence that these models invite pet families who may not otherwise engage with veterinary care to do so.

Change, even gradual change, can be challenging—but small, intentional steps can make a meaningful difference. By helping pet families plan for costs, embracing a spectrum of care, and exploring innovative care models, veterinary teams can play a pivotal role in improving access to care for all pets.

1. Benson J, Tincher EM. Cost of Care, Access to Care, and Payment Options in Veterinary Practice. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. Published online December 1, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.10.007 

2. Wiltzius AJ, Blackwell M, Krebsbach S, et al. Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy. AVCC Website (http://avccutkedu/). Published online December 17, 2018. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_smalpubs/17/ 

3. Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households (SHED). Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Updated August 22, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2023.

Products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2025 Nationwide.

By helping pet families plan for costs, embracing a spectrum of care, and exploring innovative care models, veterinary teams can play a pivotal role in improving access to care for all pets. 

The Rising Costs of Veterinary Care: Challenges and Pathways to Greater Access

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition seen in canine patients, and management can be challenging. “We cannot take a cookbook approach,” David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, founder and orthopedic surgeon at Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics, said during a recent session at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 Instead, Dycus encourages veterinarians to obtain a definitive diagnosis of OA and create a management plan that is patient-specific.

OA is the No. 1 cause of chronic pain in dogs and can have a large impact on both the patient's and the owner's quality of life. Dycus reminded veterinarians that, because it is an inflammatory disease that occurs secondary to other disease processes, it can occur in dogs of any age. A recent study of patients between 8 months and 4 years of age found that nearly 40% had radiographic evidence of OA.

 Of these, 60% had concurrent clinical signs of OA.

As some clinical signs of OA can be subtle, it is essential to ask owners specific questions to determine the presence or absence of clinical signs.

The diagnosis of OA requires multiple pieces of information, including the following:

 Most patients with OA have a chronic, slowly progressive history of lameness or alterations in their mobility. Patients presenting with a history of acute lameness often have some degree of injury, though they may be at risk of future development of OA.

 This includes objective gait evaluation (ideally using a numerical scale), assessing range of motion and presence or absence of pain in the joints, and comparing muscle mass in the limbs, which can indicate disuse.

Radiographs aid in the diagnosis of OA and are the minimum imaging technique needed for a diagnosis, but they should not be the only consideration. This is particularly important as some patients can have radiographic evidence of OA that is not yet causing clinical signs.

For some patients, the OA diagnosis may be speculative (based on history and physical examination alone) if the owner is unable or unwilling to pursue radiographs. Dycus encouraged veterinarians to carefully consider the potential adverse effects of any medications or treatments that are considered in these cases.

Finally, Dycus recommended using the Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST) to determine disease severity. This tool takes input from the veterinarian and owner to determine the stage of OA for patients with clinical signs and helps to identify dogs with OA risk factors that could benefit from early intervention.

Ultimately, “OA is a total management disease,” Dycus said. “Our primary focus in patients with OA should be on modulating, mitigating, and/or eliminating inflammation.” By doing this, we can work to improve patient quality of life, improve pain, decrease the severity and frequency of flare-ups, improve daily activity, and improve the human-animal bond.

Multimodal management is essential. OA affects the entire joint, not just a single part, so treatment should focus on the entire joint. Additionally, Dycus noted that many patients will present with flares of OA. Management of a patient during a flare is different than long-term management, particularly when it comes to exercise levels.

COAST stage 1 includes patients with risk factors but no clinical signs of OA or pain on examination. These patients are usually puppies or young adults. Radiographic changes may or may not be present.

For these patients, Dycus recommends establishing a baseline strategy to promote joint health and delay the onset of OA. This strategy should include the following:

Preventing obesity is the ideal strategy. For patients who are already overweight, controlling pain is essential before starting a weight loss plan that includes exercise.

 Although time running and playing in the yard can be helpful, clients should work with their pet to build up to 20 to 30 minutes of walking on flat ground twice daily.

 These may include nonslip flooring, adding rugs, or installing ramps to reduce strain on joints.

 These have been shown to modulate inflammation. For joint health, the recommended dose is higher than for other diseases (DHA/EPA 150-175 mg/kg/day).

Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan Canine; American Regent Animal Health):

 This has been proven to support joints in dogs. Dycus recommended administering the product at the label dose (2 mg/lb intramuscular injection twice weekly for 4 weeks). Once 8 injections have been administered, dosing can be discontinued.

Joint supplements can be considered part of this strategy; however, Dycus cautioned veterinarians that the FDA does not regulate supplements. He recommended looking for supplements with quality control programs, including third-party testing, that contain ingredients known to modulate inflammatory responses and that test those ingredients in vitro.

As clinical signs of OA begin to develop in young to middle-aged dogs, these patients may present with pain on examination and may have radiographic changes. At this stage, Dycus recommended continuing the baseline management strategy previously outlined but reducing daily exercise, especially during times of pain. Additionally, he added the following therapies to the management plan:

Repeating the polysulfated glycosaminoglycan treatment at the label dose every 6 months. "This is not a loading dose; this is the dose,” Dycus said, adding that ongoing injections between the series are not necessary.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most effective oral pain relievers available. Dycus typically starts with 1 to 4 months of NSAID therapy.

For patients in this category, Dycus recommended rechecking 2 to 4 weeks after instituting therapy to ensure a positive response. As long as the patient is responding well, he rechecks every 6 weeks until the patient returns to their baseline management plan. Long-term management of these patients includes evaluating COAST and an orthopedic examination every 4 to 6 months.

For patients who are refractory to the initial treatment plan, additional options include short-term addition of amantadine, formal rehabilitation therapy for 4 to 6 weeks, shockwave therapy, and intra-articular injections with platelet-rich plasma, steroids, or synthetics.

Middle-aged to older patients with consistent to worsening clinical signs, pain on examination, decreased range of motion in their joints, and radiographic changes of OA are typically COAST stage 3 to 4. These patients should still have a baseline plan, but it will likely need to be modified to account for mobility limitations that may interfere with daily exercise.

In addition to the regular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan series and daily NSAIDs, patients may need long-term amantadine, intra-articular injections, and maintenance rehab. Dycus shared that the addition of gabapentin (> 10 mg/kg 3 times per day) or pregabalin (2-4 mg/kg twice a day) may be helpful, though there is limited evidence for efficacy with regard to joint pain.

For patients who are having significant pain flares or not improving, subcutaneous ketamine injections can be considered. Bedinvetmab (Librela; Zoetis) could also be considered to help break the pain cycle. One strategy is administering 2 to 3 injections, then returning to maintenance NSAID use.

Dycus stressed the importance of setting appropriate expectations with owners of dogs with OA. This is a progressive disease that will worsen over time despite our best efforts. Owners should be prepared for this and understand that the management plan will evolve over time as the patient’s baseline changes.

Additionally, owners should be prepared for flare-ups of the disease process and know how to recognize these events. The faster an owner recognizes a flare, the faster an intervention plan can be instituted.

“I’m a big fan of educating owners,” Dycus said, though he cautioned against giving too much information at once. Instead, he recommended providing owners with additional resources, such as websites like caninearthritis.org and caninearthritis.co.uk, that they can explore after the appointment.

“There’s never going to be only 1 thing to manage osteoarthritis,” Dycus said. Canine patients can present with risk factors or clinical signs of OA at any age. Using a tool like COAST can help to identify these patients and institute a patient-specific management plan that can decrease inflammation within the joint and improve overall patient quality of life.

Dycus D. A patient specific approach to osteoarthritis management. Presented at: Fetch dvm360 Conference; March 14-16, 2025; Charlotte, NC. 

Enomoto M, de Castro N, Hash J, et al. Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs. 

. 2024;14:2827. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-52324-9

Cachon T, Frykman O, Innes JF. Face validity of a proposed tool for staging canine osteoarthritis: Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST). 

. 2018;235:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.02.017

Many therapies exist for osteoarthritis, but the best approach is multimodal and patient-specific.

Make a patient-specific plan for canine osteoarthritis

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), research has indicated that a timely referral for a patient’s condition can extend their survival time, improve their quality of life, and lead to more favorable perceptions from clients.

 Last month, the AAHA released the 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines to provide veterinary practices with a framework for managing referral cases, including the most complex ones.

“What excites me most about these guidelines is their comprehensive yet practical approach to streamlining the referral process,” Genesis Jones, DVM, co-chair for the 2025 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines, wrote in an AAHA announcement.

 “For the first time, we’re providing a detailed roadmap that benefits everyone involved—primary care teams [PCTs], specialty care teams [SCTs], and, most importantly, our patients and their families.”

The new guidelines outline 3 referral collaboration models

 Discussions between veterinary professionals focused on sharing general insights without addressing individual patient cases

Professional-to-professional consultations: 

More in-depth discussions that focus on specific cases and involve a PCT seeking advice from a specialist without transferring care

A formal process that transfers direct patient care to a SCT for the management of a particular condition

Additional takeaways from the guidelines include the value of a web-based portal and the importance of the PCTs’ continued involvement with the client and patient. A dedicated web-based portal can improve communication in referral cases through shared access to medical records, completed and pending diagnostics, and patient updates.

Moreover, PCTs should remain engaged with the client and patient, as ongoing involvement is a top predictor of positive client feelings toward the referral process.

 According to the AAHA, a study by the Collaborative Care Coalition found that clients valued their referring veterinarian’s continued engagement and openness to working alongside other veterinary professionals, with client perceptions being 6 times more likely to improve post-referral.

The AAHA also recommends documenting and communicating with the SCT about any completed and/or pending tests and procedures to prevent duplication. The organization also advises veterinary practices make clients aware that the SCT may need to repeat certain diagnostic and monitoring tests.

The guidelines also emphasize the importance of teleconsultation, recognizing it as an essential tool in adapting to modern veterinary practices.

When it comes to keeping communication effective between PCTs and SCTs, the AAHA suggests designating single points of contact—this referral coordinator position could be handled by either a veterinary technician or a customer service representative.

 The organization also recommends establishing expectations for follow-up care, as well as using technology for transparency, record-sharing, and collaborative case management.

In its document, the AAHA also emphasizes the importance of remembering to talk about the referral process with the client. The conversation should also include a discussion on referral cost estimates. “In many instances (e.g., internal medicine, dentistry, surgery cases), the primary care team may not be able to provide accurate estimates prior to the specialist’s assessment. Normalizing conversations about cost and providing at least the referral fee and any other expected tests/procedures will help clients deal with the potential stress of finding out about referral costs,” wrote the AAHA in its guidelines’ introduction.

“What makes me particularly optimistic about these guidelines is their potential to transform how we think about referral relationships. They’re not just about improving processes—they’re about building stronger professional relationships, enhancing patient care, and ultimately creating better outcomes for everyone involved,” wrote Jones.

“As our profession continues to evolve, these guidelines will serve as a foundation for stronger collaboration between primary and specialty care. By working together more effectively, we can ensure that our patients receive the comprehensive, coordinated care they deserve while supporting their families throughout the journey,” she continued.

2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines. American Animal Hospital Association. February 25, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/resources/2025-aaha-referral-guidelines/

Jones G. Transforming veterinary collaboration: A sneak peek at the upcoming 2025 AAHA Referral Guidelines. American Animal Hospital Association. February 21, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/sneak-peek-at-the-upcoming-2025-aaha-referral-guidelines/

AAHA releases guidelines for veterinary specialist referrals. American Veterinary Medical Association. March 3, 2025, Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/aaha-releases-guidelines-veterinary-specialist-referrals?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news

For the first time, the new guidelines offer a roadmap for everyone involved, including primary care teams and specialty care teams

AAHA releases 2025 guidelines for effective veterinary specialist referrals 

 Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shares emerging concerns regarding resistance to heartworm prevention

Video interview with Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

During an interview with dvm360, Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shared some insights into the current state of heartworm preventive resistance in veterinary medicine, what to be asking clients if a 'good client' has a heartworm-positive dog, and more. 

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

: I wish I had a really good handle on what was going on, I wish anybody had a really good handle on what was going on, honestly. What we know is it happens, and we can't necessarily predict where, although we do tend to see more cases of it in that geographic region where heartworm is most endemic, right? But it is getting transported around. It is showing up in places like Canada and the West Coast, like nontraditional heartworm places, and so I think we just need to be cognizant that these preventives that we have are really, really good, and they work [mostly] all of the time, especially when we're talking about run of the mill heartworm, but if we have a mosquito carrying a resistant isolate, which we can't predict or really know, then these preventives have all been shown to fail to a certain extent, some more than others. There's still one molecule that stands out as being the strongest, if you will, at fighting against resistant harm.

Using integrated strategies, vector control, reducing mosquito populations, using products that can keep mosquitoes from biting, or lifestyle management that can keep mosquitoes from interacting with our dogs—all of that really helps reduce that overall risk, whether or not it's resistant heartworm or susceptible heartworm, but it is out there, and we do need to have it in the back of our minds, especially when we have a patient come into our clinic where a heartworm-positive diagnosis is surprising. They've been on prevention, and this is a good client, this is a healthy pet, and they're positive. What's going on here? 

And the first thing is to just fact-check that test, right? Maybe it's a false positive, but if you get your confirmatory test back, now, I'm asking questions of... were we truly compliant or not? And really getting down to some very pointed questions, like, did we ever miss a dose, or could the animal have spit it out right? Like, we need to know these things. And if all of that still seems like everything was done correctly, then we question the efficacy of the drug. And I think that's fair, once we've gone through that kind of algorithm, because we do know these drugs can fail.

Videos

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), shares more on the current state of heartworm preventive resistance in veterinary medicine, and what to be on the lookout for 

Understanding and combating heartworm preventive resistance

Photos courtesy of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

William Murphy, PhD, BS, was named the 2025 Southeastern Conference Professor of the Year

An animal genetics investigator at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) in College Station has earned the highest award for faculty in US college athletics’ Southeastern Conference (SEC). William Murphy, PhD, BS, has been named the 2025 SEC Professor of the Year, in recognition of his teaching record, research and service in higher education.

“What an incredible honor to represent my institution and the SEC in this way,” Murphy said in a news release.

 “I am deeply grateful for the support of Texas A&M throughout my career and to the SEC for this recognition of my academic efforts.”

Winners are selected by the SEC provosts from among the 16 SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipients announced in February 2025. “The SEC Faculty Achievement Awards allow us to celebrate and highlight the remarkable contributions of outstanding faculty members on our campuses,” Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner, said in a news release.

 “While we recognize 16 exceptional individuals each year, they stand as representative of the excellence and dedication demonstrated by all SEC faculty.”

Murphy is the Professor of the Year award’s third Texas A&M recipient, since it was first presented in 2012. He joins Karen L. Wooley, PhD, BS, a polymer chemist; and Marcetta Y. Darensbourg, PhD, BS, an inorganic chemist, who are both nationally recognized experts in the field of chemistry. All 3 of these Texas A&M honorees are members of the National Academy of Sciences.

William Murphy, PhD, BS, is a research of animal genetics. 

At Texas A&M, Murphy is the James E. Womack University Professor of Genetics in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences and a University System Regents Professor, who was recently appointed to lead a new Center for Comparative Genomics in animal genetics at Texas A&M. Through his work as a genomicist, Murphy studies the structure, function and evolution of an organism’s entire genome, or its entire DNA complement, according to Texas A&M. This work aims to improve understanding of the genetic basis of a species’ traits and diseases.

Murphy’s research using comparative genomics to describe and understand evolutionary processes in mammals that result in different species, adaptations and overall biological diversity, contributed to his selection as the SEC Professor of the Year. This work has helped redefine the mammalian tree of life and transform scientists’ understanding of biology, especially through his research on the domestic cat genome, according to Texas A&M.

"Dr Murphy is one of the most influential scholars in his field worldwide. His groundbreaking work in comparative genomics has not only redefined our understanding of mammalian evolution but also illuminated the complexities of feline genetics, paving the way for advancements in both science and medicine,” John R. August, BVSc, MS, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine, said in the release.

 “His dedication to unraveling the mysteries of the genome is matched by his dedication to educating and mentoring the next generation of genomicists; we could not be prouder to see his remarkable contributions recognized by the SEC.”

According to Texas A&M, Murphy earned his PhD in biological sciences at The University of Tulsa in Oklahoma before becoming a postdoctoral researcher and senior scientist studying genomic diversity at the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. The author of more than 170 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, Murphy also serves as the editor-in-chief of the 

Throughout his career, Murphy’s work as included participation in the Zoonomia Project, an international consortium of scientists that studies mammalian genomic data to answer questions about human evolution. One Zoonomia Project study led by Murphy used the genomes of 241 species to find an answer to the question of when mammals diversified in their evolutionary timeline over the past 100 million years. This finding—that mammals were experiencing species diversification before the mass extinction that wiped out nonavian dinosaurs—supports animal and human health outcomes, according to Texas A&M.

Additionally, Murphy is regarded as an expert in feline evolution and genomics. His work includes research that has helped scientists better understand what makes different cat species unique, including how they have adapted to their environments.

Sankey expressed that the SEC was proud to have Murphy and other distinguished faculty represent it. "Dr Murphy's commitment to innovative scholarship, excellence in teaching and dedicated service embodies what it means to be the SEC Professor of the Year," he said in a news release.

Price C. Texas A&M researcher Wiliam Murphy named 2025 SEC Professor of the Year. News release. Texas A&M University. March 24, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://stories.tamu.edu/stories/tamu-researcher-william-murphy-named-2025-sec-professor-of-the-year/

SEC honors outstanding educators with faculty achievement awards. News release. Southeastern Conference. February 24, 2025. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://www.secsports.com/news/2025/02/sec-honors-outstanding-educators-with-faculty-achievement-awards-2025

Texas A&M research redefines mammalian tree of life. News release. Texas A&M University. April 27, 2023. Accessed March 24, 2025. 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/zoonomia/?highlight=zoonomia

William Murphy, PhD, BS, was selected by SEC provosts for the recognition, from among 16 previous achievement award recipients