Published March, 2015

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation board of directors has approved a budget of $1,100,500 to fund equine research in 2015.

The budget will fund 10 new projects, seven second-year projects, and two Career Development Awards to encourage young scientists. Also, the budget allows for a special call for more research which will be announced at a later date. The 2015 funding brings the foundation’s totals since 1983 to 322 projects at 41 universities for an aggregate of $22 million.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to fund every one of the projects that our Research Advisory Committee evaluated as qualifying for support,” said Edward L. Bowen, president of the foundation. “The fact that we also can reach out with a special call is a true bonus for us and, more importantly, for the horse.”

Projects that will take place in 2015 include:

• A Guinea Pig Model of Rhodococcus Equi Pneumonia—Angela Bordin, DVM, MS—Texas A&M University—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Immune Properties of Autologous and Allogeneic BMD MSCs—Laurie Goodrich, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS—Colorado State University—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Steroid/Neurosteroid Dynamics in Critically Ill Foals—Ramiro Toribio, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM —The Ohio State University—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Micrornas as Novel Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance—Tanja Hess, DVM, PhD—Colorado State University—One Year
• Role of Biofilm Infectious Endometritis in the Horse—Ryan Ferris, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT—Colorado State University—One Year
• Inhibition of Type-I Interferon Response by EHV-1—Thomas Chambers, PhD—University of Kentucky—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Firocoxib Properties in Equine Pregnancy and Placentitis—Margo Macpherson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT—University of Florida—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Flunixin or Firocoxib in Postoperative Colic Patients—Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS,—North Carolina State University—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Microsphere Encapsulated EPCs and Wound Vascularization—Anne Wooldridge, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM—Auburn University—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Prevention of Supporting Limb Laminitis—Andrew van Eps, BVSc, PhD, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVIM—University of Queensland—First Year (2 Year Grant)
• Weight Bearing: Perfusion and Bioenergetics in Laminitis—Andrew van Eps, BVSc, PhD, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVIM—University of Queensland—Second Year
• Events Affecting Laminar Adhesion in Equine Sepsis—James Belknap, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVS—The Ohio State University—Second Year
• Anhidrosis in Foals Treated with Macrolides—Robert MacKay, BVSc (Dist), PhD, Dipl. ACVIM—University of Florida—Second Year
• Characterization of Intra-Articular Isoflupredone—Heather Knych, DVM, PhD—University of California, Davis—Second Year
• Optimization of Racetrack Surface Properties—Susan Stover, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS—University of California, Davis—Second Year
• Contrast-Enhanced CT for Detection of Cartilage Injury—Chris Kawcak, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR—Colorado State University—Second Year
• Etiology of IAD and Performance in Racehorses—Laurent L. Couëtil, DVM, PhD—Purdue University—Second Year

The Career Development Awards program was initiated in 2006 with the first Storm Cat Award. This was named for the famous stallion that stood at Overbrook Farm, the family of foundation board member Lucy Young Hamilton. Hamilton personally underwrites the $15,000 stipends to assist in specific research by young candidates who pursue a career path in equine research. The 2015 Storm Cat Career Development winner is Aimee Colbath of Colorado State University, who will study "Immune Properties of Autogenous and Allogeneic BMDMSCs."

The family of the late Elaine Klein has inaugurated another Career Development Award in memory of the distinguished equestrienne. The Klein Family Foundation is based in Louisville, Ky. The recipient of the inaugural $15,000 Elaine Klein Career Development Award is Sophie Bogers of the Marion du Pont Scott Equine Medical Center, who will study "Stem Cells to Treat Osteoarthritis in Horses."

Additional details on all the projects are available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is a leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses.