George W. Irving, III, DVM, MS
Vice President, S&T Support Services

Research Contributions:
Performed independent research on the ingestive capacity of peritoneal macrophages in mice exposed to hypobaric and hypoxic environment. This work was performed in altitude chambers at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX.

Performed independent research in the spontaneous diseases of laboratory animals. This research involved epidemiologic investigation and studies of disease pathogenesis in rodents, rabbits, and primates housed in the Animal Colony of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP).

Collaborated with Drs. N. Rao and J. D. Wright, on research in demyelinating diseases of man using various animal models. These included the guinea pig and the nonhuman primate. The research focused on the study of experimental allergic optic neuritis, its association with demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, its pathogenesis, and techniques for its diagnosis.

Collaborated with Drs. N. Rao and D. Ochs, on surgical research and developed a technique for surgical exposure of the optic nerve in the guinea pig for use in studies of experimental allergic optic neuritis.

Collaborated with members of the Forensic Pathology Division of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on studies of shored exit gunshot wounds using the domestic pig as the animal model.

Performed research in the genetics of a hairless condition in the laboratory rat with Dr. F. G. Ferguson (Pennsylvania State University). This study consisted of the characterization of the histologic and gross appearance of the mutation and genetic crosses to identify the chromosomal location of the mutant gene.

Collaborated with Dr. D. Connors of the AFIP, on studies of the etiology of the condition "Myospherulosis," a clinical entity found in various areas of Africa. The model used was the rat.

Worked with investigators from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the National Institutes of Health on the development of the Mystromys albicaudatus (African White Tailed Rat) as an animal model for schistosomiasis.

Collaborated with Drs. Myers, Binford, and Walsh on the development of the armadillo as an animal model for Leprosy. Assisted in the study of various aspects of the development of a Leprosy vaccine using these animals in a WHO-supported research center at the AFIP.