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Cummings School Profiles > Alastair Cribb

Alastair Cribb DVM, PhD, FCAHS

Alastair Cribb: Dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, poses for a portrait
E-mail Department of Biomedical Sciences
  • Dean
  • Henry and Lois Foster Professor

Dr. Alastair E. Cribb was appointed dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2019.

Dr. Cribb earned his D.V.M. at Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1984 and completed a small animal internship at Michigan State University in 1985.

He spent two years in rural community practice in the Canadian Maritimes, working with food animals, horses, companion animals and wildlife. He then returned to academia, obtaining his Ph.D. in pharmacogenetics and clinical pharmacology at the University of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1992, then spent four years in drug safety assessment with Merck & Co. in Pennsylvania.

In 1996, Dr. Cribb joined the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. During his tenure at AVC, he first held a Medical Research Council New Investigator award and then a Canada Research Chair in Comparative Pharmacology and Toxicology. He established the Prince Edward Island Health Research Institute and served on the task force that led to the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Appointed the founding dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary in 2006 and to a second five-year term as dean in 2011, Dr. Cribb grew the veterinary medicine program from a small start-up working out of a few offices to a dynamic program with approximately 75 faculty, 100 staff, and 250 students. Dr. Cribb joined Cummings School after most recently serving as a professor of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Calgary.

Education

  • PhD, University of Toronto, 1991
  • DVM, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 1984
  • BSc, University of Saskatchewan, 1979

Selected Publications

  1. Pedersen S, Cribb AE, Read EK, French D, Windeyer C, Banse HE. Risk factors for equine glandular and squamous gastric disease in show jumping Warmbloods. Equine Veterinary Journal, 50 747-751, 2018.
  2. Pedersen S, Cribb AE, Read EK, French D, Banse HE. Phenylbutazone induces equine glandular gastric disease without decreasing prostaglandin E2concentrations. J Vet Pharm Ther, 41: 239-245, 2018.
  3. UCVM Class of 2016, Banse HE, Cribb AE. Comparative efficacy of oral meloxicam and phenylbutazone in two equine pain models. Can Vet J, 58: 157 – 167.
  4. Vivancos M, Barker J, Engbers S, Fischer C, Frederick J, Friedt H, Rybicka J, Stastny T, Banse HE, Cribb AE. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalency of two meloxicam oral dosage formulations in healthy horses. Can Vet J 56: 730-736, 2015.
  5. Ashley-Martin J, VanLeeuwen J, Cribb A, Andreou P, Guernsey JR. Breast cancer risk, fungicide exposure and CYP1A1*2A gene-environment interactions in a province-wide case control study in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Int J Environ Res Public Health 9: 1846-58, 2012
  6. Cribb AE, Knight MJ, Guernsey J, Dryer D, Shawwa A, Tesch M, Saleh TM. Influence of CYP17, catechol-O-methyltransferase, and glutathione transferase M1 genetic polymorphisms on breast cancer risk in women on Prince Edward Island. Breast J 17: 24-31, 2011
  7. Cribb A, Buntain B. Innovation in veterinary medical education: the concept of ‘One World, One Health’ in the curriculum of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary. OEI Scientific and Technical Reviews 28: 753-762, 2009.
  8. McConkey SE, Grant DM, Cribb AE. The role of para-aminophenol in acetaminophen-induced methemoglobinemia in dogs and cats. J Vet Pharm Ther 32: 585-595, 2009
  9. Peyrou M, Cribb AE. Cisplatin, gentamicin, and p-aminophenol induce markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the rat kidneys. Toxicological Sciences 99: 346-53, 2007.
  10. Peyrou M, Cribb AE. Calpain inhibition but not endoplasmic reticulum stress preconditioning protects rat kidneys from p-aminophenol toxicity. Toxicological Sciences, 99: 338-45, 2007.
  11. Peyrou M, Cribb AE. Effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress preconditioning on cytotoxicity of clinically relevant nephrotoxins in renal cell lines. Toxicol in vitro 21: 878-86, 2007
  12. Hall JG, Bainbridge L, Buchan A, Cribb A, Drummond J, Gyles C, Hicks TP, McWilliam C, Paterson B, Ratner PA, Skarakis-Doyle E, Solomon P. A meeting of minds: interdisciplinary research in the health sciences in Canada. CMAJ 175: 763-71, 2006.
  13. Muruganandan S, Cribb AE. Calpain-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell death following cytotoxic damage to renal cells. Toxicological Sciences 94: 118-28, 2006
  14. Saleh TM, Connell BJ, Cribb AE. Estrogen in the parabrachial nucleus attenuates the sympathoexcitation following MCAO in male rates. Brain Res, 1066: 187-195, 2005.
  15. Cribb AE, Knight J, Dryer D, Guernsey J, Tesch M, Saleh TM. Role of polymorphic human cytochrome P450 enzymes in estrone oxidation. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 15: 551-8, 2006.
  16. McFarlane D, Beech J, Cribb AE. Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone release in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone in healthy horses, in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and in equine pars intermedia explants. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 30: 276- 88, 2006
  17. Saleh TM, Connell BJ, Legge C, Cribb AE. Estrogen synthesis in the central nucleus of the amygdale following middle cerebral artery occlusion: role in modulating neurotransmission. Neuroscience, 135: 1141-1153, 2005
  18. McFarlane D, Miller L, Capan C, Craig L, Dybdal N, Habecker P, Miller M, Patterson J, Cribb AE. Agreement in histologic assessment of the equine pituitary pars intermedia in aged horses. Am J Vet Res 66: 2055-9, 2005
  19. McFarlane D, Cribb AE. Systemic and pars intermedia oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Am J Vet Res 66: 2065-72, 2005.
  20. Ryan P, Bedard K, Breining T, Cribb AE. Disruption of the endoplasmic reticulum by cytotoxins in LLC-PK1 cells. Toxicology Letters, 159: 154-163, 2005.
  21. Cribb AE, Peyrou M, S. Muruganandan, Schneider L. The endoplasmic reticulum in drug toxicity. Drug Metabolism Reviews, 37: 405-442, 2005.
  22. Saleh TM, Connell BJ, Cribb AE. Sympathoexcitatory effect of estrogen in the insular cortex is modulated by GABA. Brain Res, 1037(1-2): 114-122, 2005.
  23. McFarlane D, Dybdal N, Donaldson M, Miller L, Cribb AE. Nitration and increased alpha synuclein expression associated with dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). J of Neuroendocrinology 17: 73-80, 2005.
  24. Gaskill C, Miller LM, Mattoon JS, Hoffmann WE, Burton S, Gelens H, Ihle S, Miller J, Shaw D, Cribb AE. Liver histopathology and serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities in epileptic dogs receiving phenobarbital. Vet Pathol 42: 147-160, 2005.
  25. Saleh TM, Legge C, Connell BJ, Cribb AE. Estrogen attenuates neuronal excitability in the insular cortex following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Brain Research 1018: 119-129, 2004.
  26. Gaskill C, Hoffmann WE, Cribb AE. Serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes associated with phenobarbital treatment in epileptic dogs. Vet Clin Pathol 33: 215-222, 2004.
  27. McFarlane D, Donaldson M, Cribb AE. Seasonal and sample handling effects on measurement of plasma α-melanocyte stimulating hormone in horses and ponies. Am J Vet Res 65: 1463-8, 2004
  28. Moore I, Horney B, Day K, Lofstedt J, Cribb AE. Treatment of inflammatory airway disease in young standardbreds with interferon alpha. Can Vet J 45: 594-601, 2004
  29. Saleh TM, Connell BJ, Legge C, Cribb AE. Stroke-induced changes in estrogen release and neuronal activity in the parabrachial nucleus of the male rat. J Stroke Cerebrovascular Dis 13: 24-34, 2004
  30. Bedard K, MacDonald M, Collins J, Cribb AE. Cytoprotection by endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins in continuous cell lines. Pharmacology and Toxicology 94: 124-131, 2004.
  31. Saleh TM, Connell BJ, McQuaid T, Cribb AE. Estrogen-induced neurochemical and electrophysiological changes in the parabrachial nucleus of the male rat. Brain Res 990: 58-65, 2003
  32. Saleh TM, Cribb AE, Connell BJ. Role of estrogen in central nuclei mediating stroke-induced changes in autonomic tone. J Cardiovascular Dis Stroke 12: 182-195, 2003.
  33. Fisher JR, Lane IF, Cribb AE. Urethral pressure profile and hemodynamic effects of phenoxybenzamine and prazosin in non-sedated male dogs. Can J Vet Res 67: 30-8, 2003
  34. Summan M, Cribb AE. Novel non-labile covalent binding of sulfamethoxazole reactive metabolites to cultured human lymphoid cells. Chem-Biol Interac 142: 155-73, 2002
  35. Saleh TM, Cribb AE, Connell BJ. Reduction in infarct size by local estrogen does not prevent autonomic dysfunction following stroke in male rats. Am J Physiological Sciences 281: R2083- R2095, 2001
  36. Saleh TM, Cribb AE, Connell BJ. Estrogen-induced recovery of autonomic function following middle cerebral artery occlusion in male rats. Am J Physiological Sciences 281: R1531-R1539, 2001
  37. Naisbitt DJ, Gordon SF, Pirmohamed M, Burkhart C, Cribb AE, Pichler WJ, Park KB. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of sulphamethoxaole: demonstration of metabolism-dependent haptenation and T-cell proliferation in vivo. Br J Pharmacol 133: 295-305, 2001
  38. Aburto E, Cribb A, Fuentealba IC, Ikede BO, Kibenge FSB, Markham F. The failure of selenium supplementation to prevent copper-induced liver damage in Fischer 344 rats. Can J Vet Res 65:104-110, 2001
  39. Cribb AE, McQuaid T, Renton KW. Effect of LPS-evoked host defence activation on hepatic microsomal formation and reduction of sulfamethoxazole hydroxylamine in the rat. Biochem Pharmacol 62: 457-459, 2001.
  40. Aburto E, Cribb A, Fuentealba IC. Effect of chronic exposure to excess dietary copper and dietary selenium supplementation on liver specimens from rats. Am J Vet Res 62: 1423-1427, 2001.
  41. Aburto E, Cribb A, Fuentealba IC. Morphological and biochemical assessment of the liver response to excess dietary copper in Fischer 344 rats. Can J Vet Res 65: 97-103, 2001
  42. Bedard K, Fuentealba C, Cribb A. The Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat develops hepatocellular damage in the absence of antimicrosomal antibodies. Toxicology 146: 101-109, 2000.
  43. Gaskill C, Burton S, Gelens H, Ihle S, Miller J, Shaw D, Brimacombe M, Cribb A. Changes in serum thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations in epileptic dogs receiving phenobarbital for one year. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 23: 243-49, 2000
  44. Aburto E, Cribb A, Fuentealba C. Hepatotoxic effects associated with short and long term exposure to dietary copper in rats. Trace elements in Man and Animals 10: 679-683, 2000
  45. Gaskill C, Cribb A. Pancreatitis associated with potassium bromide/phenobarbital combination therapy in epileptic dogs. Can Vet J 41: 555-558, 2000
  46. Bedard K, Smith S, Cribb A. Sequential assessment of an anti-drug antibody response in a patient with a systemic delayed-onset sulfonamide hypersensitivity reaction. Br J Dermatology 142: 253-58, 2000
  47. Gaskill C, Burton S, Gelens H, Ihle S, Miller J, Shaw D, Brimacombe M, Cribb A. Effects of phenobarbital on serum thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone in epileptic dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 215: 489-496, 1999.
  48. Cribb AE, Despres B, Cawthorn R. Tetrazolium-based cytotoxicity assay to determine anti- protozoal activity against the scuticociliate Anophryoides haemophila. Dis Aquat Org 35: 213-19, 1999.
  49. McCrea J, Cribb AE, Rushmore T, Osborne B, Gillin L, Lo M-W, Waldman S, Bjornsson T, Spielberg S, Goldberg MR. Phenotypic and Genotypic Investigations of a Healthy Volunteer Deficient in the Conversion of Losartan to its Active Metabolite, E-3174. Clin Pharmacol Ther 64: 348-52, 1999.
  50. Pfieffer E, Guy N, Cribb AE. Clomipramine-induced urinary retention in a cat. Can Vet J 40: 265- 67, 1999.
  51. Trepanier LA, Cribb AE, Spielberg SP, and Ray K. Deficiency of cytosolic arylamine N-acetylation in the domestic cat and wild felids due to the presence of only a single NAT1-like gene. Pharmacogenetics 8: 169-79, 1998.
  52. Cribb AE, Pohl L, Spielberg SP, Leeder JS. Patients with delayed onset sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions have antibodies recognizing endoplasmic reticulum luminal proteins. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 282: 1064-72, 1997.
  53. Trepanier LA, Kunal R, Winand NJ, Spielberg SP, and Cribb AE. Cytosolic arylamine N- acetyltransferase deficiency in the dog and other canids is due to an absence of NAT genes. Biochemical Pharmacology 54: 73-80, 1997.
  54. Nuss CE, Grant DM, Spielberg SP, Cribb AE. Further investigations of the role of acetylation in sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions. Biomarkers 1: 267-272, 1996.
  55. Cribb AE, Belle L, Trepanier L, Spielberg SP. Adverse reactions to sulphonamide and sulphonamide-trimethoprim combination products: clinical syndromes and pathogenesis. Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Review, 15: 96-50, 1996
  56. Cribb AE, Nuss CE, Alberts DW, Lamphere DB, Grant DM, Grossman SJ, and Spielberg SP. Covalent binding of sulfamethoxazole reactive metabolites to human and rat liver subcellular fractions assessed by immunochemical detection. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 9; 500-507, 1996
  57. Cribb AE, Nuss C, and Wang R. Antipeptide antibodies against overlapping sequences differentially inhibit human CYP2D6. Drug Metab Dispos 23: 671-675, 1995.
  58. Preuksaritanont T, Dwyer LM, and Cribb AE. (+)-bufuralol 1’-hydroxylation activity in human and rhesus monkey intestine and liver. Biochem Pharmacol 50: 1321-1325, 1995.
  59. Anari R, Cribb AE, and Renton K. Effect of duration of induction and species on the response of inducible P450 to the interferon inducer polyIC. Drug Metab Disp 23: 536-41, 1995.
  60. Delaporte E, Cribb AE, and Renton K. Effect of interferon on expression of native and recombinant CYP1A1 in a human B lymphoblastoid cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 73: 1692- 1697, 1995.
  61. Nakamura H, Cribb AE, Uetrecht J, Nasser Z, Miller M, Grant DM and Spielberg SP. Metabolism and toxicity of N-acetoxysulfamethoxazole: a potential candidate for the ultimate toxin in sulfonamide hypersensitivity reactions. J Pharm Exp Ther 274: 1099-1104, 1995.
  62. Cribb AE, Spielberg SP, and Griffin GE. N4-hydroxylation of sulfamethoxazole by cytochrome P450 of the CYP2C subfamily and microsomal reduction of its hydroxylamine metabolite in human and rat hepatic microsomes. Drug Metab Dispos 23: 406-414, 1995.
  63. Cribb AE, Griffin GE, Spielberg SP, Rushmore TH, Chauret N, and Nicoll-Griffith D. Increased co- sedimentation of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase with microsomal fractions prepared from frozen rat liver. Drug Metab Disp 22: 969-972, 1994.
  64. Cribb AE, Tsui B, Isbrucker R, Michael R, Gillespie CT, and Renton KW. Assessment of arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT1) in mononuclear leukocytes of cystic fibrosis patients. Br J Clin Pharmacol 39: 85-89, 1995
  65. Cribb AE, Isbrucker R, Levatte T, Tsui B, Gillespie CT, and Renton KW. Acetylator phenotyping: the urinary caffeine metabolite ratio in slow acetylators correlates with a marker of systemic NAT1 activity. Pharmacogenetics 4: 166-170. 1994.
  66. Cribb AE, Delaporte E, Kim S, Novak RF, and Renton KW. Regulation of CYP1A and CYP2E induction in the rat during the production of interferon alpha/beta. J. Pharmacol Exp Ther 268: 487-494, 1994.
  67. Cribb AE and Renton KW. Dissociation of xanthine oxidase induction and cytochrome P450 depression during interferon induction in the rat. Biochem Pharmacol 46: 2114-2117, 1993.
  68. Delaporte ED, Cribb AE, and Renton KW. Modulation of induction of CYP3A1 by the interferon inducer polyinosinic-polycytidilic acid. Drug Metab Disp 21: 520-523, 1993
  69. Cribb AE, Nakamura H, Grant DM, Miller M, and Spielberg SP. Role of monomorphic and polymorphic human N-acetyltransferases in determining sulfamethoxazole metabolism. Biochem Pharmacol 45: 1277-1282, 1993.
  70. Cribb AE and Spielberg SP. Sulfamethoxazole is metabolized to the hydroxylamine metabolite in humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther 51: 522-526, 1992.
  71. Gupta A, Eggo MC, Uetrecht JP, Cribb AE, Daneman D, Rieder M, Shear NH, and Spielberg SP. Drug-induced hypothyroidism: the thyroid as a target organ in hypersensitivity reactions to anticonvulsants and sulfonamides. Clin Pharmacol Ther 51: 56-62, 1992.
  72. Cribb AE, Grant DM, Miller M, and Spielberg SP. Expression of monomorphic arylamine N- acetyltransferase (NAT1) in human leukocytes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 259: 1241-1247, 1991.
  73. Cribb AE, Miller M, Leeder JS, Hill J, and Spielberg SP. Reactions of the nitroso and hydroxylamine metabolites of sulfamethoxazole with glutathione: implications for idiosyncratic toxicity. Drug Metab Disp 19: 900-906, 1991.
  74. Riley R, Cribb AE, and Spielberg SP. Glutathione S-transferase μ deficiency is not a marker for susceptibility to sulfonamide idiosyncratic toxicity. Biochem Pharmacol 42: 696-698, 1991.
  75. Cribb AE, Miller M, Tesoro A, and Spielberg SP. Peroxidase-dependent oxidation of sulfonamides by monocytes and neutrophils from humans and dogs. Mol Pharmacol 38: 744- 751, 1990.
  76. Cribb AE and Spielberg SP. Hepatic microsomal metabolism of sulfamethoxazole to the hydroxylamine. Drug Metab Dispos 18: 784-787, 1990.
  77. Cribb AE and Spielberg SP. An in vitro investigation of predisposition to sulfonamide idiosyncratic toxicity in dogs. Vet Res Comm 14: 241-252, 1990.
  78. Cribb AE, Leeder JS, and Spielberg SP. Use of a microplate reader in an assay for glutathione reductase using 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Anal Biochem 185: 195-196, 1989.
  79. Cribb AE. Idiosyncratic reactions to sulfonamides in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 195: 1612-14, 1989.
  80. Cribb AE. Feline gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma: a review and retrospective study. Can Vet J 29: 709-712, 1988.
  81. Cribb AE, Burgener D, and Reimann K. Bile duct obstruction secondary to chronic pancreatitis in seven dogs. Can Vet J 29: 654-657, 1988.
  82. Schultze AE, Cribb AE, and Tvedten HW. Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in a cat. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 22: 623-627, 1986.

Additional Information

Through his research, Dr. Cribb has worked to create an understanding of individual and species differences in response to drug administration. His primary research interests are in comparative clinical pharmacology, comparative molecular toxicology, and comparative pharmacogenetics. He has published more than 80 scientific publications on these topics.

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