A Collaborative Approach to Biomarker Discovery for Equine Grass Sickness
Start date
October 2024End date
October 2027Overview
This research focuses on identifying biomarkers for Equine Grass Sickness (EGS), a severe and often fatal neurodegenerative disease predominantly affecting grazing horses. The project combines the expertise of the Moredun Research Institute and the University of Surrey’s Schools of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine. It employs mass spectrometry-based proteomics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence to analyse protein “fingerprints” in biological samples from both affected and healthy horses. Advanced statistical methods will be used to identify proteins with potential diagnostic value.
Additionally, the research aims to provide valuable insights into the disease’s pathogenesis and raise awareness of EGS among equine professionals, researchers, and the wider horse-owning community.
Aims and objectives
Aims
- Identify biomarkers for equine grass sickness (EGS) using advanced proteomics and bioinformatics.
Objectives
- Characterise protein fingerprints in diseased vs. healthy horses.
- Investigate diagnostic utility of identified biomarkers.
- Raise awareness through interdisciplinary collaboration and science communication.
Funding amount
£120 K
Funders
Team
Principal Investigator
Professor Christopher Proudman
Professor of Veterinary Clinical Science
Biography
Chris Proudman graduated from Cambridge University Vet School in 1988 and was awarded a PhD in Equine Epidemiology from University of Liverpool in 1996. His academic career has embraced teaching equine medicine and surgery, equine intestinal disease research and various leadership roles at the University of Liverpool.
He has a long-standing involvement with the horseracing industry, including veterinary work on racecourses in Northwest England and membership of the Horserace Betting Levy Board's veterinary advisory committee.
Appointed as Head of the University of Surrey's new Vet School in 2013, he leads the development and delivery of a 21st century curriculum focussed on graduate confidence and competence, and on innovation in animal health. His current research work focusses on the role of the horse's gut bacteria in intestinal health and disease.
Co-investigator
Dr Beth Wells
Knowledge Exchange Specialist & Principal Research Scientist
Biography
Beth’s background is in hill sheep farming, veterinary diagnostics, parasites and all things equine. Following a PhD on Sheep Scab diagnostics at Moredun, her research moved on to the zoonotic parasites, Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma. Her interest in science communication then led to her present role at Moredun, a dual one as a Principal Researcher and Knowledge Exchange Specialist. This involves working across the Institute and with collaborators and stakeholders, leading projects and developing engaging and novel ways to promote uptake from Moredun’s scientific outputs.
As one of her projects, Beth leads Moredun’s Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) research programme, where she enjoys working with a small but highly engaged research team focussed on developing equine gastro-intestinal organoids to apply in equine research. Beth’s role in the EGS project also includes development of the EGS biobank, a bank of biological samples from EGS cases and controls with associated metadata. This requires her to work closely with Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance team, the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, equine vets and horse owners, both nationally and internationally. The EGS project gives Beth the opportunity to establish collaborative research projects with multiple partners, including Surrey Vet School, where she is a co-supervisor for Brenda Moite’s PhD project in biomarker discovery for early EGS diagnosis. Beth has a lifelong interest in all things equine, having been a Highland Pony breeder for many years and keen horse rider all her life.
Research Team
PhD Research Assistant
News
Veterinary PhD student meets royalty at Moredun Institute
Brenda Moita discussed her new PhD research project with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. Find out more here.
Research themes
Find out more about our research at Surrey: