Research breakthroughs

This is a sampling of discoveries made through research at the University of Minnesota's Leatherdale Equine Center.

The genetic defect Overo Lethal White Syndrome in white foals born to Overo paint horses is fatal within 48 hours. Discovery of the genetic defect led to the development of a diagnostic test for breeding animals to prevent matings likely to produce an affected foal.



The genetic defect Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency causes abortion and neonatal death in Quarter Horses. Discovery of the disease and development of a diagnostic test now prevents the heartache of a foal being born and succumbing from this disease.



The genetic defect and disease Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy causes the most common form of tying up in Quarter Horses and more than 20 other breeds. Discovery of the diseaseMy career goal is to become an investigator in an academic medical center performing basic and translational research of rheumatic diseases. Building on my previous experiences, I herein propose a comprehensive career development plan that combines mentored research with research seminars, didactic scientific and biostatistical coursework, training in research integrity, and independent scientific review that lead to independence during the time of this award. The proposed research training will be under the mentorship of Dr. John D. Reveille at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC) and co-mentorship of Dr. Michael Brenner at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Dr. Michael R. Blackburn at UTHSC. The research proposal extends on our previous work describing the expression of cadherin-11 (cad-11) on human fibroblast-like