EQUINE STUDIES SIGNATURE PROGRAM

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EQUINE STUDIES SIGNATURE PROGRAM

• By definition this involves all aspects of the
  CVMs Mission Statement teaching and training,
  outreach, patient care, and research. This CVM
  features one of the largest horse programs in
  veterinary medical education
• Todays focus will be on the research enterprise

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FACTS REGARDING EQUINE RESEARCH

• The horse, in North America, is regarded as an
  expensive (very) hobby i.e., few actually work
  for a living and they are not consumed in this
  country
• The horse (equid) industry is incredibly
  fragmented by breed and sport type (for example,
  racing Quarter Horse, Standardbred (trotters
  and pacers), Thoroughbred (flat and
  steeplechase), Arabians all have their own
  associations and different track design and
  surfaces thus their wishes/needs vary

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FACTS REGARDING EQUINE RESEARCH

• The costs involved in equine research are awesome
  - per horse costs alone such as feeding, housing,
  pasture, health care, etc. are often prohibitive
• Competitive funding for horse research is sparse
  at best. There are basically only three
  consistent external (USA) funding sources (AQHA,
  Grayson-Jockey Club, and Morris Animal
  Foundation) their annual collective
  contribution equates, approximately, to one
  annual allocation for a well funded NIH multiyear
  grant!

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EQUINE RESEARCH AT TEXAS AM COLLEGE OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

• Investigations based on clinical cases are
  on-going
• Donkey and mule research project Drs. Taylor,
  Matthews, et al, for more than two decades (huge
  budget!!!)
• Programmatic approach via the inception of the
  Link Equine Research Endowment and establishment
  of College Signature Programs mid to late 90s

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PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH LINK EQUINE ENDOWMENT

• H. Patricia Link provided in excess of 8M to
  endow equine studies to be shared by the CVM
  and Dept. of Animal Science
• Dr. Bryan Johnson provided the initial plan
  programmatic approach based on existing expertise
  and critical mass

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INITIAL PLAN

• Identify existing strengths and leadership
• Provide format for research team proposals
• Provide the expectation of earned continued
  funding based on publications, extramural
  funding, evidence of developing effective
  collaborative efforts (departments, colleges,
  other universities, industry, other countries),
  and importance of the subject to the horse
  industry

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INITIAL PLAN

• With time a blending of programs (shared
  expertise, equipment, etc.)
• Provide for annual review process and thus
  renewal or denial of funding

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LINK EQUINE RESEARCH ENDOWMENT PROGRAMS

• Nutrition Animal Science
• Reproduction LACS, CVM, Animal Science, Chem,
  and BioChem
• Genomics IBS and Animal Science
• Epidemiology LACS, Dept. of Statistics, and
  Animal Science
• Colic LACS, SACS, and Univ. of Florida
• Infectious Disease R. equi LACS and CVM

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EQUINE INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROGRAM

• Drs. Martens, Chaffin, and Cohen
• Program focuses on R. equi (most severe form of
  pneumonia in foals). Great significance to the
  industry and a world-wide problem. Dr. Martens
  did some of the very first successful research on
  this disease years ago.
• Investigations directed toward identification of
  risk factors and development of
  products/management/control and prevention

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EQUINE INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROGRAM

• Texas, National, and World-wide collaborative
  efforts with researchers, practitioners, farms,
  and associations
• 21 peer reviewed publications, 15 abstracts, and
  17 major presentations
• Funding AQHA, Grayson-Jockey Club, Morris
  Animal Foundation, TAES, TERRAC (Texas Equine
  Research Account), USDA (animal health formula
  fund)
• Largest and most successful program of its kind

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LINK EQUINE COLIC RESEARCH PROGRAM

• Drs. Roussel, Bahr, Cohen, Hooper, Rakestraw,
  Steiner, and Williams at TAMU Drs. Merritt and
  Sanchez at U. Fla. Dr. Buddington at Miss. State
  Univ.
• Program focuses on risk factors that result in
  colic gastric emptying and its role colitis
  and gastric ulcer formation

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LINK EQUINE COLICRESEARCH PROGRAM

• Have successfully organized researchers from 2
  departments, 3 other universities in USA, 2
  universities in Europe, and several commercial
  companies
• 21 peer reviewed publications and 36
  presentations and abstracts
• Funding Southern California Equine Foundation,
  Morris Animal Foundation, and TERC. Indirect
  support and donations from Olympus, Evalis,
  Merial, Agribrands, and the Horse Betting Levy
  Board

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LINK EQUINE EPIDEMIOLOGY PROGRAM

• Drs. Cohen, Thompson, Martens, Carter, Blanchard,
  and Watkins CVM Drs. Wang, Toby, and Carroll
  Dept. of Statistics Dr. Gibbs Animal Science
• Focuses on observational studies in horse
  populations (colic, respiratory disease,
  lameness/breakdowns, pharmacology,
  reproduction/abortion, EPM, West Nile Virus).
  Focused discipline broad application

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LINK EQUINE EPIDEMIOLOGY PROGRAM

• 18 peer reviewed publications and equal number of
  presentations this number, however does not
  reflect contributions from this program with
  others (reproduction, infectious disease, and
  colic programs). This is the best example of a
  program blending with others.
• Extensive and consistent collaborative efforts
  with Texas practitioners, racing commissions,
  large private equine practices (Ky), and most
  recently AAEP. Additional collaborative
  relationships with Drs. Moore (U. Ga), Carey
  (Harvard Medical School), White (Va/Md), Slovis
  _at_ Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Ky)
• Principal contributions consistent and
  successful entry of discipline to the horse
  industry with studies performed in the absence of
  inflicting/creating unnecessary disease or injury

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LINK EQUINE REPRODUCTION BIOLOGY PROGRAM

• Drs. Varner, Forrest, Hinrichs, Brinsko, Choi,
  Dangott, Ing, Johnson, Love, D Russell, W
  Russell, Thompson, and Welsh
• Program was discussed in greater detail in
  College Hour

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LINK EQUINE REPRODUCTION BIOLOGY PROGRAM

• 6O peer reviewed publications 103
  abstracts/presentations
• Extramural funding and donations

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LINK EQUINE GENOMICS PROGRAM

• Drs. Adelson and Gill (Ani Sci) Drs. Chowdhary,
  Skow, Raudsepp, Lee, and Seabury (IBMS)
• Research focus equine gene map development with
  long-term goals tools and resource development,
  disease and fertility genetics, coat color and
  performance genetics

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LINK EQUINE GENOMICS PROGRAM

• 30 peer reviewed publications (3 of which were
  cover articles in scientific journals)
  abstracts and presentations
• Funding USDA, Texas Higher Education Board,
  Morris Animal Foundation, Havemeyer Foundation,
  AQHA, and TERC
• Internationally the most prolific research group
  in equine genomics

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THE TEX TAYLOR AND NORA MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL
MULE
AND DONKEY RESEARCH
PROGRAM

• Drs. Taylor and Matthews, Mrs. Taylor, Ms. Taylor
  (recently Dr. Taylor), and a plethora of 485s
  and volunteers
• Research focus pharmacokinetics and exercise
  physiology in mules and donkeys

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TTNMIMDRP (acronym)

• Funding Most comes from Dr. Taylor and his
  family as the animals involved are family
  members. Drs. Taylor and Matthews over the years
  have garnered donations from a variety of
  interested mule and donkey owners (American
  Donkey Mule Society, Gulf Coast Donkey Club,
  Geraldine Dodge Foundation, and individuals).
• The program is unique in many ways, but perhaps
  the most important being that it has been very
  productive (publications, presentations, and the
  addition of much needed information and expertise
  in animals that play a MAJOR role in
  international agriculture and transportation
  along with an expansion of their number and
  popularity in this country.

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TTNMIMDRP

• 16 peer reviewed publications, 22 abstracts, and
  presentations at every level (8 countries)
• have interacted with equine humane groups 2 of
  which are international and the Bureau of Land
  Management in the USA.
• Perhaps the lowest budget in the history of
  successful equid research!!!!

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SUMMARY

• The college of Veterinary Medicine at TAMU has
  earned a major leadership role in the horse
  world
• The key elements, in my opinion, have been a
  real world understanding of the horse industry
  and its needs an ability to get help from all
  corners of this college the ability to get
  along and get this done while operating a huge
  hospital load (meaning that the success of these
  programs is directly proportional to the
  contribution of all the clinical faculty to
  manage patient care, clients, and teaching)
  wonderful departmental staff and the totally
  unique and wonderful gift to the horse from H.
  Patsy Link.