Dr JoGayle Howard

How many scientists can say that their work has impacted our planet in a positive and measurable way? Dr JoGayle Howard could. She was instrumental in helping save some of the world's most charismatic species through basic and applied research and training young professionals. It is with great sadness that we report that Dr JoGayle Howard died March 5, 2011, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Dr Howard served as the theriogenologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, in Washington, DC. Dr Howard was a leader and inspiration for scientists within the American Society for Andrology and the zoo and wildlife community. She was an active member of the American Society of Andrology and served as a member of the Executive Council (1993–1996); Vice-President, Women in Andrology Committee (1999–2000); and President, Women in Andrology Committee (2000–2001). Dr Howard also delivered the Buckeye Lecture in 1997. Dr Howard received her DVM from Texas A&M University in 1980 and her PhD from the University of Maryland in 1989. Dr Howard's career at the National Zoo started in 1980, when, as a freshly graduated veterinarian, she did a postgraduate internship in comparative reproduction under the supervision of Drs David Wildt and Mitchell Bush. During those early years, Dr Howard developed approaches and conducted fertility examinations on a host of wildlife species ranging from bats to elephants while traveling the world extensively, working both in the field in Africa and in zoos and breeding centers. Dr Howard's basic research resulted in the publication of more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, 20 book chapters, and numerous reports. She was a recipient of a prestigious Special Emphasis Research Career Award from the National Institutes of Health. In recognition of her many accomplishments, she was recognized for Research Achievement (US Fish & Wildlife Service), as a Featured Conservation Scientist (British Airways Exhibit at Millennium Dome, London), and with the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Award, the Distinguished Research and Scientist Award (American Association of Zoo Veterinarians), and the Recovery Champion Award for her leadership in helping save the black-footed ferret (US Fish & Wildlife Service). Dr Howard was active in the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of the IUCN–World Conservation Union, the Felid Taxon Advisory Group, and numerous Species Survival Plans of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She also held adjunct appointments at both the University of Maryland and George Mason University. She extensively lectured to university, conference, and lay audiences worldwide. Dr Howard's research focused on fertility, infertility, and the role of reproductive technologies for promoting reproduction in wildlife. She was instrumental in developing novel approaches for propagating genetically valuable animals, especially using artificial insemination. Her basic research interests largely focused on understanding reproductive mechanisms in never-before-studied species and the phenomenon of teratospermia. Her specific contributions to the field of andrology are summarized as: Developing technologies for semen and sperm analysis in diverse species, including the African elephant, rhinoceros, antelopes, felids, and the black-footed ferret both in captivity and in the wild. Demonstrating a link between a loss in genetic diversity and an increased incidence of abnormal sperm, especially in felids and specifically in the cheetah, Florida panther, and clouded leopard. Characterizing cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and sperm structure and function in felids. Demonstrating the negative impact of poor sperm morphology on low cryo-survival. Establishing the link between poor nutrition and the incidence of oligospermia or teratospermia in felids. Developing field-friendly sperm cryopreservation techniques for numerous species, including the cheetah, clouded leopard, elephant, antelope, black-footed ferret, and giant panda. Demonstrating the transmissibility of feline immunodeficiency virus via semen (applicable to assisted reproductive techniques) and also developing processing techniques to minimize viral load. Dr Howard was a champion for numerous species on the brink of extinction. Her contributions to wildlife conservation are summarized as: Recovering species that were on the edge of being lost forever. Especially relevant were her contributions to saving the black-footed ferret that at one time was declared to be extinct, until a small remnant population was found in Montana in the early 1980s. Zoos were called to assist, and, under Dr Howard's oversight, the National Zoo's ferret breeding program flourished with the birth of more than 500 kits, including 150 via artificial insemination. Most recently, she produced black-footed ferret kits from sperm frozen more than 20 years ago. She also initiated a multidisciplinary program to conduct a biomedical survey of wild black-footed ferrets to assess health, disease, reproduction, immunology, and genetics of reintroduced populations in the North American grasslands ecosystem. This program resulted in the successful reintroduction of the species in 6 US western states, Canada, and Mexico. Understanding the reproductive biology of species that were dramatically affected by small population size and lost gene diversity. The population of Florida panthers collapsed to fewer than 50 individuals in the 1980s because of habitat fragmentation in south Florida. Dr Howard tromped through the swamps with her colleagues to assess the reproductive status of Florida panthers, discovering an extraordinary high incidence (>90%) of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa in this critically endangered subspecies, as well as other physiological defects, including cryptorchidism. These findings helped the US Fish & Wildlife Service to implement a radical interbreeding strategy using the genetically distinct pumas from Texas to restore genetic vigor. Applying reproductive technologies to enhance zoo populations. Dr Howard was part of a team that, for the first time, collected, cryopreserved, and imported sperm from free-ranging cheetahs in Africa (Namibia) for producing offspring in the United States by artificial insemination. The overall benefits of this work included vastly expanded knowledge of cheetah biology and genetics, and improved the ability to maintain a reproductively viable population through a combination of science and reproductive management. Enhancing reproductive efficiency in captive populations of an iconic species. Dr Howard was a key member of a multi-institutional team that worked side by side with Chinese colleagues to understand the biology of giant pandas for the purposes of unlocking the mysteries of poor reproduction. With Chinese colleagues, she developed new protocols for sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination, often by training young Chinese professionals in the range country or her laboratory at the National Zoo. Dr Howard also is credited with successfully inseminating the female giant panda Mei Xiang at the National Zoo, producing the famous cub Tai Shan in 2005. Championing for species conservation in range countries. The clouded leopard is a beautiful yet secretive cat living in southeastern Asia. When the breeding program in US zoos was failing, Dr Howard established the Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium that was devoted to breeding this endangered species in the range country of Thailand. She and her team have produced more than 50 cubs while simultaneously raising funds to support conservation projects both in the field and in captivity. A subset of 6 of these cubs has been imported into the United States to rejuvenate the American zoo breeding program, with another 8 offspring already produced. The final component of Dr Howard's passion for andrology, reproductive science, and conservation involved training a next generation of biologists. She was an outstanding mentor with high ethical standards and relentless focus on ensuring highest-quality scientific output. She was a constant source of inspiration for numerous young students and professionals. Forty-six undergraduates, 7 graduate students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, and 12 visiting scientists (from Russia, Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, and China) benefited from her mentorship and now carry on her legacy. Dr Howard also conducted numerous training courses in wildlife reproduction, male fertility assessment, gamete cryopreservation, nutrition, and veterinary medicine, including in Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Dr JoGayle Howard was unique in having not only touched the lives of hundreds of people, but actually saving a species and contributing to the recovery of many others. We all have lost not only a superb scientist and advocate for our profession but also a champion for wildlife conservation. Dr Howard will forever be remembered with respect, love, and gratitude.

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