15 June 2010 Obituary: Emeritus Professor Cliff Irvine

Lincoln University records with regret the death in Christchurch on Friday 11 June of Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Science Cliff Irvine, aged 90.

Professor Irvine was internationally recognised for his work on equine endocrinology, particularly in relation to reproduction, growth and stress in mares.

Born in Dunedin and a graduate in Veterinary Science of Sydney University, Cliff Irvine practised as a vet in Southland and South Otago and won a research fellowship which took him to Otago University's Medical School.

In 1966 he joined the staff at Lincoln College as a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Science. He headed the Equine Research Unit and in 1976 was appointed to a Personal Chair in Veterinary Science. In 1978 he married Dr Susan Alexander, with whom he collaborated in on-going endocrinological work. He retired in 1987. 

His research breakthrough, which established his reputation internationally, was to find a pathway to the pituitary gland in horses so that different substances released during activity could be measured. His work produced the first hormones from inside the brain of a living mammal. Previously brain hormones were studied only in slaughtered animals and scientists were never sure of the extent to which change might have occurred due to the trauma of death. Professor Irvine developed a painless technique involving the insertion of cannulae (small tubes)  which could be left in place for up to a week and through which blood samples could be drawn off regularly for analysis.

Major grants from the United States National Institute of Health supported much of his work and were an indication of its international significance.  At the time, Professor Irvine's  funding from the Institute was among the largest ever awarded to a New Zealand researcher.

A paper he delivered at Cambridge, England, in 1974 describing hormone levels in mares is regarded as a landmark paper in the field of reproductive physiology.

His work subsequently served as a model for human neuroendocrinology.

Outside of the laboratory Professor Irvine had a long interest in race horses and he had been a successful breeder, trainer and driver. He was also an official veterinarian and consultant to the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conference.

In 1974 he had the distinction of being only the second Lincoln University staff member (the other was FW Hilgendorf in 1905!) to have his work recognised with the award of the highest degree of a New Zealand university  -  DSc (Otago). Two further doctorates followed, from Massey University and Sydney University. In 1996 he was awarded Lincoln University's Bledisloe Medal. In 2000 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to veterinary science.