Participate In Research

As part of FHANA’s Strategic Plan, one of the association’s goals is to become a leader in genetic research and equine wellness by working with research organizations and supporting their research.  To that end, the FHANA Health Committee has compiled a list of research studies across North America currently seeking candidate horses.

 

Interested FHANA members are encouraged to contact research organizations directly for more information and enrollment details.

 

Bilateral Corneal Stroma Loss in Friesian Horses

Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Friesian horses with and without BCSL

Study Type:  Ophthalmology examination, photography, and hair DNA sample

Remote Participation: No. Horses must be examined at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://studypages.com/s/understanding-the-genetics-causing-bilateral-corneal-stromal-loss-in-friesian-horses-148189/?ref=gallery

 

Distichiasis in Friesian Horses

Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Friesian horses affected with Distichiasis

Study Type:  DNA blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  Contact Dr. Rebecca Bellone – research@vgl.ucdavis.edu

 

Megaesophagus in Friesian Horses

Organization:  Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses

Requested Subjects:  Friesian horses less than 5 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of megaesophagus via esophageal endoscopy or barium swallow test.  Horses may also be diagnosed via necropsy

Study Type:  DNA blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  Contact Angie DePuydt – angie@fenwayfoundation.com

 

Aortic Rupture in Friesian Horses

Organization:  Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses

Requested Subjects:  Friesian horses with confirmed diagnosis of aortic rupture or threatened aortic rupture.  Horses may also be diagnosed via necropsy

Study Type:  DNA blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  Contact Angie DePuydt – angie@fenwayfoundation.com

 

Gastric Rupture, Gastroparesis & Delayed Gastric Emptying in Friesian Horses

Organization:  Fenway Foundation for Friesian Horses

Requested Subjects:  Friesian horses with confirmed diagnosis of gastric rupture, gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying.  Horses may also be diagnosed via necropsy

Study Type:  DNA blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  Contact Angie DePuydt – angie@fenwayfoundation.com

 

Correlations Between Connective Tissue Diseases in Friesian Horses

Organization:  University of Georgia

Requested Subjects:

·      Friesians with a documented diagnosis of Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease (DSLD),

·      Friesians with documented diagnosis of Megaesophagus

·      Friesians with documented diagnosis of Chronic Proliferative Pastern Dermatitis (CPPD)

·      Friesians with a documented diagnosis of regular pastern dermatitis

·      Control subjects (Friesians unaffected by DSLD, megaesophagus, CPPD or pastern dermatitis)

Study Type:  Punch biopsy taken from under the mane (2-3 biopsies, approximately 7 millimeters in diameter). UGA has developed a diagnostic test for DSLD, a disease caused by inappropriate accumulation of proteoglycans in connective tissue and would like to determine if their test could also be used to identify other connective tissue related diseases in Friesian horses. A DNA profile will be extracted from the tissue samples and sequenced and the histology of the tissue will be examined.

Remote Participation: Yes.  Samples will be shipped to UGA.

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: research@fhana.com

 

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease (DSLD)

Organization:  University of Wisconsin-Madison

Requested Subjects:  Peruvian or other breeds affected with DSLD

Study Type:  DNA sample (blood or hair)

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/lab/corl/dlsd-study/

 

Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy

Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Horses of all breeds affected with Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy

Study Type:  DNA blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://studypages.com/s/understanding-the-genes-behind-temporohyoid-osteoarthropathy-in-horses-535627/?ref=gallery

 

Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Horses with confirmed ocular SCC (confirmed by pathology), or horses that have not been diagnosed with ocular SCC that are at least 13 years old. Horses that are suspicious for ocular SCC are invited to participate, but confirmation would be required prior to inclusion in the study

Study Type:  DNA sample (blood or hair)

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: https://studypages.com/s/understanding-the-genetics-causing-ocular-squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-horses-779981/?ref=gallery

 

Stem Cell Therapy Administration to Horses with Laminitis

Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Horses diagnosed with laminitis

Study Type:  Stem cell injections (3 treatments 2-3 weeks apart)

Remote Participation: No.  Horses must be treated at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital or be within local distance

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: https://studypages.com/s/comparing-how-stem-cells-are-given-to-horses-with-laminitis-217702/?ref=gallery

 

Vincristine Chemotherapy Treatment for Equine Lymphomas Organization:  University of California-Davis

Requested Subjects:  Horses with a confirmed diagnosis of the type of lymphoma through biopsy and special stains, and clonality (additional special tests performed on the biopsy sample)

Study Type:  Vincristine administration at weekly intervals for a maximum of 6 treatments

Remote Participation: No.  Horses must be treated at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: https://studypages.com/s/evaluation-of-vincristine-chemotherapy-for-the-treatment-of-lymphomas-in-horses-560288/?ref=gallery

 

Overweight Horses with Cresty Necks

Organization:  Oklahoma State University

Requested Subjects: Overweight horses and ponies with cresty necks (body condition score at least 7.5/9), aka ‘easy-keeper’ types. A history of laminitis is acceptable; however, the enrolled horses need to be otherwise systemically healthy (no other co-morbidities, not actively laminitic, no medications)

Study Type:  Oral Sugar Test, blood sample

Remote Participation: Yes

Enrollment Information:  https://vetmed.okstate.edu/research/clinical-trials/large-animal/index.html

 

Equine Melanoma & Sarcoid Tumor Treatment Trial

Organization:  Ohio State University

Requested Subjects:  Horses diagnosed with sarcoid or melanoma

Study Type:  4-week treatment trial with topical cream

Remote Participation: No. Candidates must be examined at the Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center’s Galbreath Equine Center

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: Contact Dr. Margaret Mudge at mudge.3@osu.edu or Dr. Caitlin Moreno at moreno.209@osu.edu

 

Equine Sarcoid Tumor Clinical Treatment Trial

Organization:  University of Georgia

Requested Subjects:  Horses with suspected or confirmed, measurable, well-defined, nodular or fibroblastic sarcoid tumors

Study Type:  Up to 24 months treatment trial with a single injection of tigilanol tiglate

Remote Participation: No. Candidates must be examined at the University of Georgia

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: https://vet.uga.edu/clinical-trial/study-to-evaluate-the-safety-and-efficacy-of-tigilanol-tiglate-in-the-treatment-of-equine-sarcoid-tumors/

 

Equine Microbiome

Organization:  Purina Equine Research Team

Requested Subjects:  Horses of all ages and breeds

Study Type:  Fecal swab

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/campaign/equine-microbiome-kits

 

Equine Muscle Disease Study

Organization:  University of Minnesota

Requested Subjects:  Horses of all ages and breeds with suspected or diagnosed muscle disease (PSSM2, RER, dystrophic and non-dystrophic myotonia and some forms of malignant hyperthermia)

Study Type:  Survey, photos, videos, medical records, DNA sample (hair or blood) and samples of hay, grain, and supplements.

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://www.equine.umn.edu/research/equine-genetics-and-genomics-laboratory/participation-muscle-disease-horses-study

 

Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Organization:  University of Minnesota

Requested Subjects:  Horses of all ages and breeds with EMS

Study Type:  Survey, DNA blood sample, optional Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://www.equine.umn.edu/research/equine-genetics-and-genomics-laboratory/current-projects/equine-metabolic-syndrome/get-involved-research

 

Colloid Transfusion in Horses with Gastrointestinal Disease

Organization:  Oregon State University

Requested Subjects:  Horses with naturally occurring gastrointestinal disease that receive transfusions in the course of normal treatment

Study Type:  Clinical treatment with plasma and hetastarch transfusion

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  Contact Dr. Erica McKenzie at (541) 737-4809 or erica.mckenzie@oregonstate.edu.

 

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Susceptibility

Organization:  Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Requested Subjects:  Horses chronically affected with EPM

Study Type:  DNA sample (blood or hair)

Remote Participation: No

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://vetmed.vt.edu/content/dam/vetmed_vt_edu/research/clinical-research-office/documents/Client-consent-form-EPM-genetic-bias.pdf

 

Equine Asthma – Effect of Nebulized Lidocaine

Organization:  Tufts University

Requested Subjects:  Horses with veterinarian-diagnosed equine asthma with no other signs of infectious or inflammatory disease

Study Type:  Hospital admittance, medication, and monitoring

Remote Participation: No.  Horses must be examined at Tufts Cummings Veterinary Medical Hospital

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://trials.vet.tufts.edu/clinical_trials/examining-the-effect-of-nebulized-lidocaine-on-equine-asthma/

 

Sarcoid Clinical Trial

Organization:  Oklahoma State

Requested Subjects:  Horses of any age, breed or gender that have a sarcoid. The sarcoid mass cannot be larger than three inches or within two inches of the eye

Study Type:  Clinical treatment.  Blood and Urine samples required

Remote Participation: No.  Horses must be examined at Oklahoma State

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://vetmed.okstate.edu/research/clinical-trials/large-animal/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3BZ39ZxP__CYtY2yjE3womAHgkVCmIyrYDXjvomco2YVfFoZY6dlqMbk8&fs=e&s=cl

 

Equine Microbiome Project

Organization:  University of Delaware

Requested Subjects:  Horses of any age, breed, or gender.

Study Type:  Fecal sample, survey, health & diet history.  Participation kit fee is $90.  Owners will receive a summary of their horse’s microbiome they can share with their veterinarian.

Remote Participation: Yes

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information:  https://sites.udel.edu/equine-microbiome/equine-microbiome-project/

 

Molecular Diagnosis for Bacteria and Fungi of the Reproductive Tract

Organization:  Cornell University

Requested Subjects:  Any mare that has a uterine sample collected prior to breeding.

Study Type:  Uterine sample

Remote Participation: Yes.  Samples can be shipped to Cornell University

Recruitment Period:  Open. No end date established

Enrollment Information: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/clinical-trials/molecular-diagnosis-bacteria-and-fungi-reproductive-tract