Dr Beth Wells of the Moredun Research Institute, is the research lead for the EGS programme and it is her collaborative and interdisciplinary approach which has broadened the scope of research into this devastating disease.
We enjoyed an inspirational evening with a world class panel of speakers at the Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) event at World Horse Welfare Belwade.
Dr Beth Wells of the Moredun Research Institute, is the research lead for the EGS programme and it is her collaborative and interdisciplinary approach which has broadened the scope of research into this devastating disease.
Dr Tanith Harte has previously studied the neuroimmunology of Alzheimer’s Disease and is able to apply this to EGS at the Moredun, where tissues have successfully been cultured into viable organoids - a world first. This advance in technology offers huge research potential and is reliant on Biobank samples.
Dr Hayley Coulson is completing her investigation in meteorological conditions associated with EGS and is developing a predictive risk-based model. The work is based on data from the EGSF Biobank initiative in the UK but is also being validated in temperate zones around the world, such as in Northern Italy and Chile.
Dr Katie Williams is Technical Manager at Dengie and a Registered Nutritionist. Katie highlighted the need for horses to be fed a healthy diet and focused on the stability of the gut microbiome. This is an area of increased interest across medical and veterinary professions, however the equine microbiome is not well understood and has been identified as an important area for research.
A very active Q&A session emphasised the engagement of the audience and highlighted the need for samples and case-reporting to the Biobank (https://www.grasssickness.org.uk/biobank/). We are in the midst of the high-risk period, so there is no better time for horse owners and vets to be aware of the sampling protocols and be prepared, if the worst does happen.
Equine Grass Sickness is a complex and cruel condition but with collaboration and concerted effort the EGSF aims to find a causal agent and ultimately a cure for this devastating disease. There is a lot to be positive about so both EGSF Chair, Anne Logan and Katherine Thomson [role?] recognised many of the fundraisers and supporters who have contributed in so many inspiring ways to the fund during 2023.
Norvite is delighted to support the Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF) and Technical Director David McClelland has participated in a variety of ways with the ongoing research, from soil and forage sampling at Belwade to chairing the recent meeting.
David commented, “Conventional research funding, from public bodies, does not apply to equines. EGS research relies on grassroots funding from an army of individuals and equestrian groups. Every contribution is a valuable addition to the pot, but there are other ways to participate. I cannot over-emphasise the importance of the Biobank. This is a really valuable resource for the academics and researchers, but it is only as strong as the submissions of tissue samples. I would encourage every horse owner to raise awareness of the resource and to engage with your vet and the EGSF team. Unfortunately, a significant number of cases have already been reported this season. A case of grass sickness is a traumatic time, so think about what you would do and consider tissue donation as a small positive impact out of a very harrowing experience. A well-resourced Biobank will empower the research and take us all closer to the outcome we want. This is a real team effort with horse owners, industry, vets & academics all collaborating and everyone playing their part.”