2000 IRIS Award Winner

Penny Barber, BVM&S, PhD, DSAM(Fel), MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine

A Tribute to Penny Jane Barber

It was with great sadness that I learned of the untimely death of a greatly respected colleague, Penny Barber on Wednesday 28th July 2004. Penny was the first graduate student I had the privilege of supervising in the field of veterinary nephrology at the Royal Veterinary College. She was instrumental in establishing our system for obtaining primary care case material for longitudinal study from veterinary practices in London. She joined us having spent time in general practice, and thus she knew the practical, clinical and scientific questions she wanted to pursue in her research. Penny was a highly talented clinician. She quickly developed into a researcher of immense ability and integrity. Her meticulous approach to her professional work, both in the clinic and laboratory is an example to us all – she would never compromise on standards, no matter how pressing the need to generate data.

Penny's clinical research in the area of secondary renal hyperparathyroidism and hyperphosphataemia resulted in several peer-reviewed publications highlighting the importance of this complication of the uraemic syndrome and the benefit to the patient of effective treatment. These contributions were recognized by three National Awards for her published papers and by the inaugural International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) Award in 2000. The IRIS Award recognized her potential as a young and highly promising clinical researcher in the field of veterinary nephrology. There is no doubt these accolades were richly deserved.

Penny was a Senior Lecturer at the Liverpool School and there is no doubt she was destined for a highly successful academic career, having progressed from lecturer to senior lecturer grade in the five years following her PhD studies. During this time she honed her clinical skills to the highest level and developed as a truly excellent teacher as I am sure many undergraduates will testify. For her life to end at this stage is a tragedy for us all and represents a huge loss to the veterinary community. We need talented individuals like Penny in academia to ensure the future of our subject. It was a pleasure to have known and worked with Penny and we shall miss her greatly.

Jonathan Elliott

IRIS Board Member
Professor in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology
The Royal Veterinary College
Royal College Street
London NW1 0TU
United Kingdom

September 2004

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