2024 Spring Research Conference
Celebrate the "Day of the Horse" with us on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
The School of Health Sciences will host its annual 2024 Spring Research Conference at the Stephens College campus in Columbia, Missouri. Find more information here.
This event is free and open to the public.
Keynote Speakers
Heidi Banse, DVM, PhD - Louisiana State University
Equine Glandular Gastric Disease: Investigations into a complex clinical syndrome
Dr. Banse graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at the University of Georgia followed by a dual residency/PhD program in Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at Oklahoma State University. She started her academic career at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 as an Assistant Professor of Therapeutics. After four years at the University of Calgary, she moved to Louisiana State University. Dr. Banse is presently Associate Professor of Equine Medicine and Associate Dean for Educational Strategy at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Her clinical research focuses on mechanisms of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and endocrine disorders (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome) of horses.
Michelle DeBoer, PhD - UW River Falls
The Current Status of Drug Resistance in Equine Parasites: A Growing Problem
Dr. Michelle DeBoer has her M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Currently, Dr. DeBoer is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls where she teaches Animal Physiology and Equine Production. She also performs research focusing on horse blanketing, deworming, nutrition, pasture management, and other horse husbandry topics. Outside of work, Dr. DeBoer enjoys dog agility and rides her Arabians in dressage and endurance.
Aaron Ericsson, DVM, PhD - University of Missouri
The Equine Gut Group – a multi-center effort to understand the equine gut microbiome
Dr. Ericsson obtained his DVM with honors from the MU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. Following a three-year residency in the MU Comparative Medicine Program, he completed a PhD studying interactions between the innate immune system and gut microbes using mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. He is Director of the MUMC and also currently serves as lead scientist on microbiota research for the NIH-funded MU Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) and Rat Resource and Research Center (RRRC). Dr. Ericsson is partnering with Stephens College to advance the study of horse health and support the education of the next generation of animal scientists in the Women in STEM Research (WiSR) program. He has expertise in animal models, metagenomics, mucosal immunology, and microbiology.
Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD - North Carolina State University
Mentoring the next generation through equine colic research
Dr. Anthony Blikslager is Professor of Equine Surgery and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at NC State University in Raleigh, NC, USA. His research is focused on equine colic and mechanisms whereby intestinal mucosa repairs after strangulating obstruction. Dr. Blikslager received the AVMA Clinical Research Award in 2020. He was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor and awarded the Ned E. Huffman Leadership Award from NC State University in 2017. He won the Applied Equine Research Award from the World Equestrian Veterinary Association in 2011. He received the Pfizer Award for Excellence in Research from NC State University in 2006. Dr. Blikslager received a PhD in Gastrointestinal Physiology at NC State University in 1997. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995 following a residency in Large Animal Surgery at NC State University from 1990-1994, and an Equine Medicine and Surgery internship at the University of Missouri-Columbia from 1989-1990. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989.
Conference Agenda
Thursday, April 18, 2024
