Bailey

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Expression profiling with an equine-specific microarray holds the promise of identifying novel genes that are functionally important in many research applications targeting horses, including tissue physiology, disease pathogenesis, and molecular mechanisms (positive and negative) of therapeutic agents. Applied experimental use of the microarray will be an important part of the validation process. Areas of research interest are varied in the laboratories that will contribute directly to the development of this microarray. They include joint disease, laminitis, reproduction, pulmonary obstruction, infectious disease, EPM, and colic. In all applications, the equine-specific eDNA microarray will be an important new research tool. Scientists will be able to assess expression in thousands of equine genes within a single experiment, allowing more informed decisions to be made on the individual genes (or encoded gene products) that should be investigated further.