Name: Macarena Sanz
From: Argentina
Degrees and institute where received: DVM from La Plata National University;
Master of Science and Dipl. ACVIM at Washington State University;
PhD at the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center

Macarena Sanz, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, came to the University of Kentucky (UK) Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center for her doctoral research in equine immunology and infectious diseases, which she completed in fall 2014, because of the distinguished program. In particular, she sought to work under David Horohov, PhD, interim chair of the Department of Veterinary Science at UK, interim director of the Gluck Equine Research Center, and Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair at the Gluck Center, because of his worldwide recognition as a specialist in equine immunology. For the past several months after earning her doctoral degree, she has been a postdoctoral scholar at the Gluck Center where she continues her research.

The purpose of her primary research is to identify factors that affect foal susceptibility to Rhodococcus equi, a microorganism that causes pneumonia in young foals. There is currently a lack of knowledge about the disease because historically researchers have not had an appropriate experimental model to reproduce the disease.

“We have developed a neonatal foal model that mimics the outcome of natural infection,” Sanz said. “This model allows us to generate important information that improves the understanding of the relationship between foal age and susceptibility, and the neonatal foal immune response to the organism