Lawrence R. Soma, VMD, Dipl. ACVA, Marilyn M. Simpson professor of anesthesia and clinical pharmacology in the department of clinical studies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s (Penn Vet) New Bolton Center (NBC) announced that the NBC has received a generous donation from the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen Association (PHHA). The monies donated, in conjunction with donations from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, the Pennsylvania Horsemen Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen Association at PARX Racing will be used for the purpose of developing methods to detect and study the effects of a performance enhancing drug, informally called ITPP.

The ongoing research program is a joint venture between Cornelius E. Uboh, PhD, director of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory at West Chester University, and Soma, who also serves as director of the Pennsylvania Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at Penn Vet in Kennett Square, which is supported primarily by the Pennsylvania Horse and Harness Racing Commissions.

"We are very appreciative of these gifts from the PA Horsemen’s groups, which have been used to enhance our research program," said Soma. "This is of benefit to all constituents in the racing industry. We have withdrawn all other proposals requesting funding for this specific drug."

The research will be co-directed by Mary Robinson, VMD, PhD, a lecturer of equine pharmacology. Her fellowship at Penn Vet is funded, in part, by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. Research to investigate AICAR, another drug suspected of being utilized in the racing industry, is near completion thanks to funding from the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium