Rate My Professor Scott Loeffler

Dr. Scott Loeffler is the Facility and Veterinary Head of the Christchurch Animal Research Area (CARA) at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus, operating within the Division of Health Sciences. This position entails overseeing veterinary care and research facilities essential for studies conducted by the Department of Surgery and Critical Care. In parallel, Dr. Loeffler is enrolled as a PhD student in the Department of Surgery and Critical Care. He began his doctoral studies in July 2020, bringing his prior experience in epidemiology to the project supervised by Associate Professor Jacqui Keenan and Dr. John Pearson. His thesis, titled "Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis [ETBF] infection in selected NZ sheep flocks - a possible zoonotic reservoir," probes the role of sheep flocks in harboring and transmitting ETBF, a toxin-producing bacterium implicated in colorectal cancer risks in humans. This research is particularly relevant as ETBF toxin has been associated with increased colorectal cancer incidence, and identifying animal reservoirs could inform public health strategies regarding zoonotic risks. Methodologies include stool sample collection from Coopworth and Romney sheep flocks and select pediatric cohorts, followed by DNA extraction and molecular analysis funded in part by a Christchurch Medical Research Foundation grant.

Dr. Loeffler's scholarly interests align with molecular diagnostics and infectious disease epidemiology, including control, prevention, and diagnostic strategies. His contributions extend to practical support in animal handling for diverse university research, as noted in acknowledgments across several PhD theses. Key publications co-authored by Dr. Loeffler include "Characterization of an Injectable Poly(vinyl alcohol)-gelatin Hydrogel for Growth Factor Delivery in an Orthopedic Disease Model" (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2026), "Biofilm Inhibition via Delivery of Novel Methylthioadenosine Analogues from a Thermoresponsive Hydrogel" (ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 2018), and "Pathology and molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium pinnipedii tuberculosis in native New Zealand marine mammals" (2019). He has also held leadership roles such as Treasurer in the previous Postgraduate Society of Otago Christchurch (PSOC) committee.