Two equine researchers were presented with the 2012 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows for their work to advance veterinary knowledge during the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 58^th Annual Convention in Anaheim, Calif. 

Texas A&M University master of science candidate Michelle C. Coleman, DVM, DACVIM, and University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center doctoral candidate Allen E. Page, DVM, each received a $5,000 fellow to support their endeavors in equine research during the December 3 Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture. Supported in partnership by the AAEP Foundation and The EQUUS Foundation, the $5,000 fellows emphasize the importance of assisting equine researchers in their exploration of horse health care topics. In addition, each fellow winner received a $500 travel stipend to support their travel to Anaheim. The inaugural EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows were awarded last year. 

Dr. Coleman is working toward a graduate degree in biomedical sciences with an emphasis on epidemiology. She is the study coordinator for the AAEP Foundation’s Case-Control Study of Pasture- and Endocrinopathy-Associated Laminitis in horses, currently underway at Texas A&M University. The short-term objective of the study is to identify risk factors for the development of incident cases of laminitis among horse that naturally develop pasture-or endocrinopathy-associated laminitis. It is hoped that results of this project will guide the long-term objective of developing strategies for control and prevention of this form of the disease. 

Dr. Coleman received a bachelor’s of science degree in 2003 from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and her veterinary degree in 2007 from the University of Georgia.  

Dr. Page’s doctoral research is focused on the immunological response of horses to Lawsonia intracellularis;in particular, he is investigating why only a small proportion of L. intracellularis-exposed weanlings develop clinical signs of equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) while the vast majority fails to show any ill effects of exposure. One of the most pressing issues he is investigating with respects to L. intracellularis and EPE concerns how the bacterium is transmitted and where the reservoir exists on a farm.  

EPE is a disease of foals caused by the obligate intracellular organism L. intracellularis. This emerging disease causes fever, lethargy, peripheral oedema, diarrhea, colic and weight loss.

Dr. Page received his bachelor’s degree in 2004 and his veterinary degree in 2008 from the University of California, Davis. He also is a Morris Animal Foundation/Pfizer Animal Health Fellow.

For more information about this program and other scholarships offered through the AAEP Foundation, please visit the scholarship section of the AAEP Foundation’s website at. www.aaepfoundation.org.  

The EQUUS Foundation (www.equusfoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2002, is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of horses, fostering the horse-human bond, advancing the therapeutic use of horses for those in need and educating the public about the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal.
 
The AAEP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization created in 1994, serves as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners to improve the welfare of the horse. Since its inception, the Foundation has allocated nearly $2.5 million to support its mission. 

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