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Equine Researcher at University of Georgia Receives EQUUS Foundation Research Career Award
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Dr. Lauren Richardson, an equine veterinarian and PhD candidate at the University of Georgia, received the 2025 EQUUS Foundation Research Career Award and a $5,000 grant during the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 71st Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado on December 8, 2025.
The EQUUS Foundation Research Career Award recognizes a doctoral or residency student who has demonstrated significant progress in advancing equine health-care research. Dr. Richardson's research focuses on examining the effects of oxidative stress on the intestinal mucosal barrier, using NSAID-induced oxidative injury as a model for intestinal barrier dysfunction in horses.
Left to Right: Dr. Rick Mitchell, EQUUS Foundation former Board member, presents the EQUUS Foundation Research Career Award to Lauren Richardson
The clinical significance of Dr. Richardson's work is substantial, addressing a long-standing question in equine medicine: Why do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) preferentially damage the right dorsal colon in horses? Her research proposes that differences in oxidative-stress responses among intestinal segments may explain why certain regions are more vulnerable to NSAID-induced injury.
By advancing understanding of this unique susceptibility in horses, her work has the potential to identify new intervention strategies targeting oxidative-damage pathways in equine intestinal disease. The findings are expected to directly influence equine clinical practice by clarifying the oxidative mechanisms underlying NSAID-induced right dorsal colitis and other gastrointestinal (GI) injuries, ultimately guiding the development of more targeted and effective treatments.
Dr. Richardson's research motivations stem from a recognized gap in translating laboratory discoveries into clinical solutions for equine GI disease. A board-certified large-animal surgeon, she aims to pursue a career as a veterinary clinician-scientist dedicated to producing research with direct clinical applicability.
The award will support Dr. Richardson in completing her training program, which includes advancing her basic-science laboratory expertise, broadening her biomedical education, and strengthening her scientific communication skills. She anticipates completing her doctoral degree in December 2026.
Dr. Richardson earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 while concurrently completing a master's degree in public health at Tufts University School of Medicine. She later completed a residency in large-animal surgery at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in 2019.
"The health and welfare of America's horses is core to the mission of the EQUUS Foundation. We are honored to partner with The Foundation for the Horse through the EQUUS Foundation Research Career Award to support veterinarians who are dedicating their careers to equine research," said EQUUS Foundation Chair Jenny Belknap Kees.
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Learn more about EQUUS Foundation Awards here
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ABOUT EQUUS FOUNDATION: The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, is the only national animal welfare charity and accrediting body in the United States that is 100% dedicated to equine welfare with the dual mission to protect America's horses from peril and strengthen the bond between people and horses. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org. Visit: equusfoundation.org.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HORSE: Established in 1994, The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization transforming the lives of horses through equine veterinary education and scholarships, equine medical research, natural disaster relief, and support for working equids and horses in need around the world. As the charitable arm of the AAEP, The Foundation awards more than $1 million annually in scholarships, grants, and program support to help horses worldwide. To learn more, visit: www.foundationforthehorse.org.
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