A dozen new equine research projects will be launched soon as a result of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation’s latest allocation of funds. The Foundation’s board of directors met in Florida on Feb. 26 and approved 11 new projects. The Foundation will also fund a project on properties of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and is in the process of inviting researchers to submit proposals. Most of the new research involves two-year projects, which will be funded along with five second-year projects begun last year.

Given the expectation that the new projects will progress on schedule and be funded in their second year, this slate represents a commitment of more than $1 million for equine research. The Foundation’s total during the last two decades now exceeds $9 million for funding of 163 projects at 27 universities. Board members of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation are: John Hettinger (chairman), Dr. A. Gary Lavin (vice chairman), Josephine Abercrombie, William Backer, Lucy Young Boutin, William Condren, Allan Dragone, Allaire duPont, William S. Farish, John Goodman, Dell Hancock, Joseph W. Harper, Leverett Miller, Ogden Mills Phipps, Dr. Hiram Polk Jr., Dr. Jack Robbins, and Joseph V. Shields Jr. Following are the new projects to be launched via Grayson-Jockey Club funding.

Identification of Immunology Proteins Specific to Strangles
Dr. John Timoney, University of Kentucky

Strangles exacts considerable loss to the horse industry, including need for quarantine, prolonged treatment and even death. Despite progress in understanding of the disease, its causes, and a horse’s immune response, a safe and effective vaccine is not yet available. This project is aimed to identify as yet unrecognized components of the Streptococcus equi and can lead to improvement of new-generation strangles vaccine