This project seeks to investigate the environmental and physiological risk factors contributing to the onset and progression of blepharitis, evaluate its prevalence within flocks, and uncover potential underlying causes. The findings will be instrumental in developing targeted, science-based interventions that improve hen health, enhance on-farm management strategies, and support the sustainability and resilience of the turkey breeding industry.  

This research aims to bridge the gap between technology and management by integrating data from wearable sensors with locomotion scores and other cow-specific variables to improve diagnostic accuracy. The project will explore whether activity pattern variations from wearable sensors correlate with lameness events, how activity levels change during lactation, and develop predictive models to classify lameness using activity data and cow-specific information.

This project aims to assess the feasibility and diagnostic reliability of air emission sampling for PRRS detection. It will also explore prevention strategies based on data gathered from air emissions, aiming to determine the practical application of this method in real-world swine farming systems and propose strategies to reduce financial losses and improve pork production outcomes.

This research project aims to conduct proactive surveillance for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis through environmental and host sampling to detect low-density infections. Findings will be used to develop a comprehensive risk model that incorporates climate change projections to better understand future disease and species distribution. Developing a risk model to support decision-making around management in the event of an introduction will prevent chytrid fungus from having immense repercussions on amphibian biodiversity and devastating ecosystem effects.

This study aims first to investigate whether CWD prions can bind to dust particles and become airborne, which would significantly expand our understanding of disease transmission pathways and associated risks to wildlife, livestock, and potentially humans. The second objective is to assess the feasibility of detecting airborne prions using air filtration systems in both CWD-positive and CWD-negative environments across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and possibly Texas. Results from this research could have far-reaching implications for disease surveillance, environmental management, and public health.

This project aims to expand TRC’s lead dataset to better understand how clinical parameters predict the outcome of lead poisoning cases in bald eagles. The ultimate goal is to create a clinical algorithm, in the form of a flowchart, that will guide wildlife veterinarians in making informed decisions on whether to treat or humanely euthanize eagles, ultimately improving resource use and animal welfare at wildlife rehabilitation centers.

This project seeks to strengthen veterinary epidemiology in Latin America by improving data collection, analysis, and reporting systems to enhance surveillance and risk assessment. This will be done through partnering with CAHFS to support the ProgRESSVet capstone initiative, first reviewing existing educational materials and then collaborating with a selected country to address emerging transboundary animal diseases. By bolstering the availability and quality of epidemiological data, the project will support evidence-based decisions aimed at improving disease prevention, control, and management.

Building on promising results from the Guedes lab using soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors to manage OA-related pain and mobility issues in dogs and horses, this study aims to determine the effects of sEH inhibition on mobility and quality of life in cats with naturally occuring OA and to determine the contribution of sEH to apoptosis of feline chondrocytes. The findings of this study could have a transformative impact by generating essential data to support the development of a novel treatment for feline OA, with the potential for rapid clinical application given that an sEH inhibitor is already in early-phase human trials for neuropathic pain.

This research builds on a 2024 genome-wide association study of Thoroughbred racehorses to identify and characterize genetic variants in ion channels and related genes across diverse horse and dog breeds. This translational work not only aims to shed light on the genetic underpinnings of SCA in animals but also holds potential to clarify the pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance in human medicine.

This project aims to investigate the gross and microscopic (radiologic vs histologic) responses to drilling in a piglet model at 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-procedure. To better understand the effects of drilling on the secondary ossification center, this study will apply various special stains (TRAP, Masson’s Trichrome) and immunohistochemical stains (Factor VIII–Related Antigen, Caspase-3) to femoral head samples collected following drilling. The primary objective of this proposal is to utilize histological staining techniques to evaluate certain biological processes following epiphyseal drilling. 

This project aims to develop porcine models to better understand Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD) and explore potential treatments. The JOCD study will use a piglet model to examine the relationship between ischemia in epiphyseal cartilage and the progression of osteochondritis dissecans, and the LCPD component will involve inducing ischemic injury to the femoral head in piglets, replicating the condition seen in LCPD, to study the repair process. 

This study aims to explore the relationship between repeated mTBIs and the onset of substance use disorders by examining neural network changes caused by neuroinflammation in a murine model. The study will involve inducing mTBIs in mice through cortical impact injury to the medial prefrontal cortex, followed by behavioral testing to assess addiction-like behaviors. The presence of neuroinflammation will be quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry on brain tissue samples, aiming to uncover how mTBIs may contribute to SUD development.

The causes of calcium oxalate urinary stone disease are multifactorial, influenced by environmental factors and genetics. Previous whole genome sequencing of dogs has identified genetic variants related to monogenic stone disorders in specific breeds. By analyzing genomic data from mice and human models, several monogenic disorders have been linked to stone formation. This study aims to expand on these findings by characterizing the clinical and metabolic phenotypes of known monogenic stone disorders and identifying additional novel genetic variants responsible for stone formation in pet dogs.

The purpose of this project is to better understand the role of the brain lesion procedure in the differences seen in the gut microbiome of a rat in order to untangle the effects of the procedure and the effects of the hypertension model. The study aims to determine the impact of targeted brain lesions of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis or median preoptic nucleus on the gut microbiome in rats.

This project aims to develop and validate advanced quantitative MRI methods for dogs, correlating MRI biomarkers with clinical signs to differentiate between acute and chronic disc herniation. It will also explore vertebral body changes near degenerated discs to predict future herniation, laying the groundwork for longitudinal studies on Intervertebral Disc Disease progression and novel therapeutic interventions. The research seeks to provide critical insights into disease management for both dogs and humans.

This study aims to investigate whether variations in urine sample volume influence DNA concentration, sequence reads, and bacterial diversity in canine urobiomes. It will also compare the effectiveness of different urine sample processing techniques (filtration versus centrifugation and pelleting) on obtaining accurate microbial data. The findings could establish best practices for urobiome characterization in dogs, offering valuable insights into the role of microbial communities in urinary health.

This study aims to evaluate whether combining β-AR inhibitors with PD-1 blockade can more effectively reactivate these aged T cells. By analyzing receptor expression and testing combined treatments in vitro, the project seeks to enhance immune responses in older individuals and improve outcomes for AS patients.

This study aims to investigate whether the removal of an individual primate for sedation elicits a measurable stress response in the rest of the group. By monitoring behavioral and physiological indicators, the project will evaluate how such disruptions affect group welfare. Identifying and mitigating these controllable sources of stress can help researchers refine laboratory practices to improve animal welfare, reduce variability in scientific data, and potentially decrease the number of animals needed for research.

This study aims to evaluate an enhanced quantitative urine culture technique to improve detection of microbial agents in urine samples. By integrating advanced diagnostic tools, the project seeks to enhance UTI diagnosis and treatment in companion animals and contribute to better understanding and management of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine.