• Administrative Office
• DVM Program
• Environmental Medicine Consortium
• Equine Health Program
• Faculty, EPA Professional & Staff
• Research Programs
• Sections

Dr. Natasha Olby, VetMB, PhD, DACVIM

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK, 1996
• Veterinary degree (VetMB), University of Cambridge, 1991
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Cambridge, 1988

Specialty

Small animal neurology and neurosurgery

Professional Experience

• 2008-2011 - President American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Neurology Specialty.
• 2004-present - Associate Professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC.
• 1999-2004 - Assistant Professor of Neurology/Neurosurgery, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC.
• 1999 - Board certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Neurology Specialty.
• 1996-1999 - Resident in Neurology/Neurosurgery, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC.
• 1995-1996 - Post doctoral Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, UK.
•  1991-1995 - Combined PhD and General Surgery residency program, University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, UK.

Research Area

• Treatment of spinal cord injury
• Understanding the genetic basis of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases and brain neoplasia
• Therapy of canine brain tumors
• Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (Cardiology/Neurology)

Selected Publications

Cerda-Gonazalez C, Olby NJ, McCullough S, Broadstone R, Osborne J. Characteristics of Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Analyzed Using Phase Velocity Contrast Cine Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Submitted to Veterinary Radiology and US. 2009. In Press Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

Olby NJ, Smith DT, Humphrey J, Spinapolice K, Parke N, Mehta PM, Dise D, Papich M. Pharmacokinetics of 4-Aminopyridine Derivatives in Dogs J Vet Pharm Ther 2009. In Press

Thomas R, Duke SE, Wang H, Breen T, Higgins RJ, Linder K, Ellis P, Langford CF, Dickinson PJ, Olby NJ and Breen M ‘Putting our heads together’: insights into genomic conservation between human and canine intracranial tumors.  Journal of Neuro-oncology March 2009 E pub ahead of print

Awano T, Johnson GS, Wade CM, Katz ML, Johnson GC, Taylor JF, Perloski M, Biagi T, Long S, March PA, Olby NJ, Khan S, O’Brien DP, Lindblad-Toh K & Coates JR. Genome-wide association analysis identifies a SOD1 missense mutation in dogs with degenerative myelopathy: A spontaneous animal model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Proc Nat Acat Sci 2009;106:2794-9.

Cerda-Gonazalez SC, Olby NJ, McCullough S, Pease AP, Broadstone R, Osborne J. Morphology of the Caudal Fossa in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2009;50:37-46. Dr Olby was primary adviser

March P, Coates J, Abyad R, Williams D, O'Brien D, Olby N, Keating J, Oglesbee M. Degenerative Myelopathy in 18 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dogs.Vet Pathol. 2009;46:241-50

Vitale C, Olby NJ. Neurologic Dysfunction in Hypothyroid, Hyperlipidemic Labrador Retrievers. J Vet Int Med 2007;21:1316-22. Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

Coates JR, March PA, Oglesbee M, Ruaux CG, Olby NJ, Berghaus RD, O’Brien DP, Keating JH, Johnson GS, Williams DA. Clinical Characterization of a Familial Degenerative Myelopathy in 21 Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dogs J Vet Int Med 2007;21:1323-31.

Windsor RC, Olby NJ. Congenital portosystemic shunts in six mature dogs with neurologic signs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2007;43:322-31. Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

MacKillop E, Olby NJ, Linder KE, Brown TT. Intramedullary cavernous malformation of the spinal cord in two dogs. Vet Path 2007; 44:528-32.Dr. Olby was primary advisor

Long S, Nicholson I, Argyle DJ, Nixon C, Botteron C, Olby N, Smith K, Rutteman G, Nasir, L. Correlation between reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression and MIB-1 expression in canine brain tumors- an important animal model for developing telomerase based therapeutics. Neuropath Appl Neurobiol 2006;32:662-73.

Thomson S, Kennerly E, Olby N, Mickelson JR, Hoffman DE, Dickinson PJ, Gibson G, Breen B. Microarray analysis of differentially expressed genes of primary tumors in the canine central nervous system. Vet Pathol 2005;42:550-8.

Kennerly E, Thomson S, Olby N, Breen B, Gibson G. Comparison of regional gene expression differences in the brains of the domestic dog humans. Human Genomics 2004;1:435-43.

Olby, N.J. Blot S, Thibaud J-L, Phillips J, O'Brien DP, Burr J, Berg J, Brown T, Breen M Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration in Adult American Staffordshire Terriers. J Vet Intern Med 2004;18:201–208.

Olby, N.J. Harris, T., Burr, J., Muñana, K.R., Sharp, N.J.H. & Keene, B. Recovery of pelvic limb function in dogs following acute intervertebral disc herniations J Neurotrauma 2004;21:49-59.

Webb AA, Jeffery ND, Olby, N.J., Muir GD. Behavioural analysis for clinical spinal cord injury trials in veterinary medicine.Vet Rec  2004;155:225-230.

Saito, M., Olby, N.J., Spaulding, K, Muñana K.R., Sharp, N.J.H. The relationship between basilar artery resistive index, degree of ventriculomegaly and clinical signs in hydrocephalic dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2003;44:687-94. Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

Olby, N.J., Harris T., Muñana, K., Skeen, T., & Sharp, N.J.H. Long term functional outcome of dogs with severe thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 222:762-769.

Skeen, T, Olby, N.J. Muñana, K & Sharp, N.J.H. Spinal arachnoid cysts in 17 dogsJ Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2003;39:271-82. Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

Muñana, K.R., Vitek, S.M., Tarver, W.B., Haglund, M.M., Saito, M., Skeen, T.M., Sharp, N.J.H., Olby, N.J. The Use of Vagal Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Refractory Epilepsy in Dogs. .J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;221:977-83.

Olby, N.J., DeRisio, L., Muñana, K., Wosar, M., Skeen, T., Sharp, N.J.H & Keene, B.W. Development of a functional scoring system in dogs with acute spinal cord injuries. Am J Vet Res 2001;62:1624-1628.

Saito, M., Olby, N.J., & Spaulding, K. Diagnosis of arachnoid cysts in the quadrigeminal cistern using ultrasonography. Vet Rad US 2001;42:435-439. Dr. Olby was primary advisor.

Saito, M., Muñana, K.R., Sharp, N.J.H., Olby, N.J., Risk factors for development of status epilepticus in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and effects of status epilepticus on outcome and survival time: 32 cases (1990-1996).J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;219:618-23.

De Risio L, Sharp NJ, Olby NJ, Munana KR, Thomas WB. Predictors of outcome after dorsal decompressive laminectomy for degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs: 69 cases (1987-1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;219624-8.

Muñana, K.R., Olby, N.J., Sharp, N.J.H., Skeen, T. Intervertebral disc disease in ten cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2001; 37,384-389.

Olby, N.J.  Sharp, N.J.H., Anderson, L.V.B., Kunkel, L.M. & Bönnemann, C.G Evaluation of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, alpha-actinin and calpain 3 in Labrador retriever myopathy. Neuromusc Disord. 2001;11, 41-49.

Olby, N.J., Munaña, K.R., Sharp, N.J.H. & Thrall, D.G. The computed tomographic appearance of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations. Vet Radiol and US. 2000;41,396-402.

Olby, N.J., Sharp, N.J.H., Muñana, K. & Papich, M. Chronic and acute compressive spinal cord lesions in dogs due to intervertebral disc herniation are associated with elevation in lumbar CSF glutamate concentration. J. Neurotrauma 1999;16,1217-1226.

Olby, N.J. Current concepts in the management of acute spinal cord injury. J Vet Int Med 1999;13, 399-407.

Schatzberg, S., Olby. N., Steingold, S., Dickens, H., Breen, M. & Sharp. N. Molecular analysis of a spontaneous dystrophin ‘knockout’ dog. Neuromusc Dis. 1999; 9, 289-295.

Schatzberg, S., Olby. N., Steingold, S., Keene, B. Atkins, C., Meurs, K., Solomon, G., Wilton, S. & Sharp. N. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening strategy for the canine dystrophin promoter. Am J Vet Res.1999; 60, 1040-1046.

Olby, N.J. & Blakemore, W.F. Primary demyelination and regeneration of ascending axons in the dorsal funiculus of the rat spinal cord following photochemically-induced injury. J Neurocytol.1996; 25, 465-480.

Olby, N.J. & Blakemore, W.F. Reconstruction of the glial environment of an ischaemic  lesion in the rat spinal cord by transplantation  of astrocytes. J  Neurocytol.1996;25, 481-498.

Olby, N.J. & Blakemore, W.F. A new method of quantifying the extent of tissue loss following spinal cord injury in the rat. Exp Neurol 1996;138, 82-92.

Blakemore, W.F., Olby, N.J. & Franklin, R.J.M. The use of transplanted glial cells to reconstruct glial environments in the C.N.S. Brain Pathol 1995;5, 443-450.

Olby, N.J., O'Leary M.T., Targett,  M.P. & Blakemore, W.F.  The effect of injection technique on the passive spread of cells immediately  following transplantation into rat spinal cord white matter tracts. Rest Neurol Neurosci.1995; 7, 171-174.

Olby, N.J., Dyce, J. & Houlton, J.E.F.  Correlation of plain radiographic and lumbar myelographic findings with surgical findings in thoracolumbar  disc disease. J Sm Anim Pract 1994;35, 345-350.

Books, Book Chapters and Invited Reviews

Dr. Olby is the co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology and has authored book chapters in a variety of textbooks including The Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult, Current Veterinary Therapy, three different BSAVA manuals, and Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. She has written invited reviews in the Veterinary Clinics of North America (Small Animal Practive), the Clinicians Brief, Veterinary Medicine, the Compendium of Continuing Education (veterinary medicine) and the Journal of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America.