In a truck hauling a two-horse trailer that carried all the equipment needed to establish an extensive field laboratory, Jane Manfredi drove more than 6,640 miles conducting research that has been recognized by the 2015 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship.
Jane Manfredi awarded the 2015 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine doctoral candidate Jane Marie Manfredi, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, has been awarded the 2015 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship for her research into the risk factors for equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), which has established links with hyperinsulinemia and laminitis. She received the award on December 7, 2015, at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 61st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manfredi is evaluating field-oriented dynamic tests of insulin and glucose regulation, while exploring the muscle and adipose tissue biologic differences between five breeds of horses. Understanding differences in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue as it relates to insulin sensitivity and other metabolic traits could provide further insights into the molecular pathophysiology of EMS and laminitis susceptibility. Her research could also lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
“I had a few years in practice, and I have a lot of sympathy for and understanding of what is really needed in the field,” said Manfredi. “So, a component of my work is to try to optimize the field methods we can use to identify the horses earlier that are at risk for EMS and laminitis.”
Manfredi’s research examined 91 horses of five breeds across a range of insulin sensitivities—far more than any previous evaluation of the oral sugar test. To give you an idea of the scope of her project, her investigation included 3,800 glucose tests.
“I had a few years in practice, and I have a lot of sympathy for and understanding of what is really needed in the field."
The EQUUS Foundation and the AAEP Foundation jointly established the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship program in 2011. The $5,000 fellowship emphasizes the importance of equine research, rewards researchers for their contributions, and supports the increasing need to train future equine veterinary researchers.
Manfredi earned her veterinary degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2004, followed by an equine internship at Mississippi State University in 2005. She completed her master’s in veterinary surgery and her large animal surgery residency in 2012, both at the University of Minnesota. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery-Large Animal (DACVS-LA).
“The contributions of veterinary research have been considerable, not just on animal health but also public health,” said EQUUS Foundation Chairwoman Jenny Belknap Kees. “We are pleased to help provide the financial resources to enable continued advancements by sponsoring the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship.”