A changing of the guard happened recently at one of the world's most distinguished institutes for equine research. Most Lexingtonians were likely unaware that this significant event happened in their midst.
Located on what was once the University of Kentucky's working farm for agriculture faculty and students, the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and its in-house foundation are better known in veterinary and equine research circles around the world than locally.
Drivers approaching Cooper Drive recognize the Gluck Center more for its pond with ducks than for the significant research its scientists conduct on behalf of horses everywhere. Gluck scientists developed vaccines for six of the 10 most common equine diseases, including those against equine rhinopneumonitis and equine viral arteritis.
But Gluck's obscurity is likely to change if Dr. Edward Squires has his way. Internationally known for his work in equine reproduction, Squires comes to UK from Colorado State University. In 2007 he was inducted into Gluck's Hall of Fame for significant contributions to equine research.
As the new Executive Director of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation, he'll tell more people about what's going on at GERC. "I'm passionate about translating research into articles for lay people, in [general] horse magazines," he told GERF board members at their recent fall meeting.
In his other capacity as Director of Advancement and Industry Relations, Squires wants to connect with other equine scientists, veterinarians and clinicians, and horse owners as well. "The Gluck Center is one of the best-kept secrets. I want to get involved with the public and make the industry aware of what we're doing," he explained.
Along with more presentations at scientific meetings, publishing research, and holding conferences, Squires plans "to create reasons for equine leaders to be at the University of Kentucky." He also wants "an Open House - where horsemen have the chance to have their questions answered directly by [Gluck equine] scientists."
Gluck's other new leader is Dr. Mats Troedsson, the new Director of the Gluck Equine Research Center and chair of the Department of Veterinary Science within UK's College of Agriculture. A native of Sweden, Troedsson practiced veterinary medicine for 10 years.
He then earned a doctorate from the University of California, Davis, in reproductive immunology. He comes to UK from the University of Florida. At UK he will lead not only the GERC, but its components the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center and the Equine Parentage Testing and Research Laboratory.
EPTRC is involved with genetic testing of horses and other animals. LDDC does tissue testing and necropsies. It is probably best-known for the work of its staff in the collaborative effort to find the cause of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, the epidemic which killed so many foals in 2001.
Troedsson and Squires have as their top two priorities the filling of research positions and completion of the infectious disease facility at UK's Maine Chance Equine Campus.
(Dr. Scott Smith, UK's Dean of the College of Agriculture, announced that the first wing of the facility has passed every check and should be ready for use in January. This wing has 12 stalls and a second wing will be added. Another 24 stall containment facility will be constructed later.)
The economics of equine disease are huge. The outbreak of Equine Influenza in Australia in 2007 cost $1 billion. MRLS in Kentucky cost $340 million. One disease incursion in Ireland in 2006 cost more than $5 million euros for Ireland's population of 100,000 horses. The United States has an estimated 8 million horses.
Research, even though expensive, pays handsome returns. One statistic cited is that disease research returns up to $50 for every $1 invested. Another example: in 1984 a yearling tested falsely positive for Equine viral arteritis. Gluck researchers were able to clear him. He eventually earned stud fees of more than $10 million.
Troedsson said of emerging equine diseases, "We live in one of the most horse-dense populations. It's a matter of when - - not if - - we have another outbreak, another crisis."
With that in mind he expects "to work closely with, to engage the farms, the [veterinary] practices, the state veterinarian, to have a plan that we've all bought into Ö to work with the industry for the industry [so that we're prepared]."
Troedsson added, "I would like to see it happen as soon as possible, especially with the World Equestrian Games coming in 2010. We need to be ahead of the game."
Troedsson succeeds the very capable and popular Dr. Peter Timoney, who is happily relinquishing administrative duties to return to equine research. Internationally known for his work, including research that led to a vaccine for Equine Viral Arteritis, Timoney has been at Gluck since 1983.
Speaking at a packed reception to honor Timoney, Troedsson said, "I am humbled to be following in the footsteps of Peter Timoney."
The changing of the guard at GERC means that horses and their owners everywhere will continue to benefit from the high caliber of research conducted there. But the public is more likely to know about it in the future. That's a good thing, for horses and people.