Bats and COVID-19

The Gut of a Cow

Swine University educates veterinarians on a comprehensive approach to swine health management and production.

Experts in Swine Health

Laminitis Research, New Bolton Center

Dr. Zhengxia Dou, Agricultural Sustainability Project Reached 20.9 Million Smallholder Farmers Across China

A World of Difference, One Farm at a Time

Electronic Sow Feeding, New Bolton Center

Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center

New Bolton Center's (NBC) Clinical Studies department is dedicated to improving large animal health and productivity, and advancing the science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing animal diseases. Clinical service, research, veterinary education, and training interns and residents are the foundation of the department. NBC's hospital, field service, swine unit, and Marshak Dairy provide students with one of the largest, large animal caseloads in the country.

Academic Sections

Anesthesia Anesthesia
Anesthesia

Penn Vet’s academic veterinary hospitals were among the first to establish anesthesia as an independent specialty service and continue to have the some of the most experienced specialists in the world doing large animal anesthesia. New Bolton Center has the largest staff of board certified anesthesiologists and highly trained anesthesia technicians in the world specializing in large animals. Horses with major injuries can be recovered more safely from general anesthesia in our raft-swimming pool system, the only one of its kind in the world.

Faculty
- Bernd Driessen, DVM, PhD, DACVAA, DECVPT, Professor of Anesthesia, Section Chief, Anesthesia
- Klaus Hopster, DrMedVet, DECVAA, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
- Hope Douglas, VMD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
- Dario Floriano, DVM, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
- Monica Midon, DVM, Assitant Professor of Anesthesiology
Residents
- Jerianne Brandly, DVM, Resident
- Alycia Frampton, DVM, Resident
- Travis Mills, DVM, Resident
- Megan Schnuelle, DVM, Resident
- Learn more about Anesthesia...
Field Service Field Service
Equine Field Service

Our services are provided by, or in consultation with, two boarded specialists on staff (boarded internist, boarded equine practitioner) as well as access to consultation with all of the in hospital specialists including our ophthalmologist, surgeons and theriogenologists.

Food Animal Field Service

The food animal ambulatory practice provides services in herd health and preventative herd health through sick animal management, diagnostic and clinical pathology, record analysis and protocol development. We also offer reproductive management services.

Faculty
- Michaela Kristula, DVM, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine,
  Section Chief, Field Service
- Liz Arbittier, VMD, Associate Professor of Clinical Equine Field Service
- Ashley Boyle, DVM, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Medicine
- Olivia Lorello, VMD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Equine Field Service
- Emily Rule, Assistant Professor of Clinical Equine Field Service
- Billy I. Smith, DVM, MS, DABVP (Food Animal), Associate Professor of Medicine
- Meagan Smith, DVM, DABVP (Equine), Assistant Professor of Clinical Equine Medicine
Residents
- Anna DiPastina, DVM, Resident
- Emily Egolf, VMD, Resident (Food Animal/Ruminants)
- Tara Gaab, VMD, Resident (Food Animal)
- Caitrin Lowndes, MVB, Intern
Learn more about the William Boucher Field Service…
Imaging Imaging
Imaging

Offering a comprehensive selection of imaging modalities, the imaging group specializes in large animal cardiac and ultrasound examinations, radiographs, bone scans, CT, and MRI examinations.

New Bolton Center Imaging Services comprise:
- Cardiology Imaging
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Equimagine Robotic Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
- Ultrasonography
Faculty
- JoAnn Slack, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Cardiology/Ultrasound, Section Chief
- Cristobal Navas de Solis,LV, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cardiology/Ultrasound and Imaging
- Timothy Manzi, VMD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Diagnostic Imaging
- Virginia Reef, DVM, DACVIM, Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Medicine
- Olga Seco, MRCVS, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Imaging
- Claire Underwood van Eps, VetMB, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Large Animal Imaging
- Kathryn Wulster, VMD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging
Fellow
- Amanda Avison, DVM, Cardiology/Ultrasound Fellow
Residents
- Andrew Adezio, DVM
- Erica Dobbs, DVM
- Rachel Durrwachter, VMD
- Sydney Gibson, DVM
- Rebeca Gomez, DVM
- Elisa Heacock, VD
- Christopher Koester, DVM
- Maria Mulvihill, DVM
- Lawrence (Alex) Quilty, DVM
Large Animal Medicine & Ophthalmology Large Animal Medicine & Ophthalmology
Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine Service at New Bolton Center is comprised of specialists in large animal internal medicine who are recognized internationally for their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders of all large animal species, and for their research on large animal diseases.

These specialists diagnose and treat animals with medical problems including neurologic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, muscular, infectious, hematologic, renal and endocrine disorders.

Ophthalmology

The Ophthalmology Service at New Bolton Center provides complete ocular examination and diagnostics including slit lamp biomicroscopy, tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, ocular ultrasound, and electroretinography.

The Ophthalmology Service treats eye conditions such as corneal ulcers, Equine Recurrent Uveitis, cataracts, and glaucoma. A full range of ocular surgery is offered for conditions including lid lacerations, deep corneal ulcers or perforations, periocular tumors, and cataracts.

Pharmacology

The Penn Vet Equine Pharmacology Laboratory, directed by Dr. Mary Robinson, performs pharmacological and forensic research. This research provides the information needed for performing evidence-based medicine in working horses, and for designing drug testing policies that promote the welfare of working horses. Dr. Robinson is also the Acting Director of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL), which is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s equine drug testing laboratory.
- Mary Robinson, VMD, PhD, DACVCP, Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
- Fuyu Guan, BSci, MSci, PhD, Research Professor of Equine Forensic Chemistry
Internal Medicine
- Andrew Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Professor of Large Animal Medicine, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine
- Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM (LA Internal Medicine, Neurology), Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, Section Chief, Internal Medicine & Ophthalmology
- Rose Nolen-Walston, DVM, DACVIM (LA Internal Medicine), Associate Professor of Medicine
- Michelle Abraham, BSc, BVMS, DACVIM, Assistant Professor, Clinical Internal Medicine, Emergency & Critical Care, Foal Care, NICU
- Elizabeth Nelson, BVSc, DACVIM, Lecturer, Large Animal Medicine
- Jane Woodrow, DVM, PhD DACVIM (Large Animal), Lecturer, Internal Medicine
- Corinne Sweeney, DVM, DACVIM (LA Internal Medicine), Professor of Medicine, Associate Dean for New Bolton Center, Ombuds
- Ray Sweeney, VMD, DACVIM (LA Internal Medicine), Professor of Medicine
- Andrew van Eps, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Equine Musculoskeletal Research, Dean W. Richardson Professor of Equine Disease Research
- Laura Reilly, VMD, DACVIM, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medicine Residents
- Sarah Colmer, VMD
- Carla Enriquez, BVM&S
- Laurence Leduc, DVM
- Andrea Oliver, DVM
- Megan Palmisano, DVM
- Clarisa Romero Hernández, DVM
Ophthalmology
- Nicole Scherrer, DVM, Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
- Valerie Dufour, DVM, MSc, Resident, Ophthalmology (CSAM)
- Harathi Krishnan, VMD, Resident, Ophthalmology (CSAM)
Pharmacology
- Mary Robinson, VMD, PhD, Director, Assistant Professor, Equine Pharmacology
- Fuyu Guan, PhD, Research Professor, Equine Forensic Chemistry
- Joanne Haughan, Mag. Med. Vet, Research Specialist
- Youwen You, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Equine Forensic Chemistry
Teaching & Research Associate
- Catherine Torcivia, DVM
Population Medicine Population Medicine
New Bolton’s Section of Population Medicine directly affects the lives of animals and humans alike and emulates the School’s mission of One Health.

The section was established in 1986 (as Animal Production Systems) to implement teaching, research and service programs directed toward the improvement of health and productivity in food animal herds. These programs integrate expertise in disciplines such as clinical nutrition, reproduction, health economics and computer science in addition to conventional specialities in veterinary medicine. The focus of the Population Medicine group is the maintenance of physical and economic health in the whole animal population rather than clinical treatment of individual sick animals.

Students learn to provide guidance on production efficiency, milk quality, reproductive efficiency and immunization programs for cattle.

Faculty & Staff
- Dr. Helen Aceto, Associate Professor of Epidemiology
- Dr. Gary Althouse, Associate Dean of Sustainable Agriculture and Veterinary Practices, Jones Endowed Professor of Reproduction and Swine Health
- Dr. Linda Baker, Associate Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Medicine
- Dr. Joseph Bender, Assistant Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Management
- Dr. Zhengxia Dou, Professor of Agricultural Systems, Section Chief, Population Medicine
- Dr. Thomas Parsons, Professor of Swine Production Medicine
- Dr. Meghann Pierdon, Assistant Professor of Clinical Production Medicine
- Dr. Dipti Pitta, Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition
- Dr. Laurel Redding, DACVPM, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
- Dr. Darko Stefanovski, Associate Professor of Biostatistics
- Dr. Brianna Parsons, Lecturer, Sustainable Livestock Agriculture
- Dr. Jen Yun Chou, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Swine Unit
- Dr. Nagaraju Indugu, Bioinformatician A/Research Specialist
- Dr. Kapil Narayan, Post Doc Population Medicine
- Bonnie Vecchiarelli, Research Specialist
- John Toth, Research Specialist
- Lisa Dewald, Administrative Assistant
Resident
- Kris Smith, VMD, Resident, Poultry Welfare
Reproduction & Behavior Reproduction & Behavior
Reproduction

New Bolton Center's Clinical Section of Reproduction & Behavior provides comprehensive reproductive services for mares and stallions. Based at the Georgia and Philip Hofmann Research Center for Animal Reproduction, the section’s clinicians have extensive clinical experience enhanced by the latest in research and technology.

The section provides a wide range of reproductive services, from natural breeding to advanced assisted reproductive techniques like embryo and oocyte transfer. Stallions are a specialty and the section has extensive experience in dealing with male fertility and behavior problems; its equine behavior service is considered one of the best in the world. The section’s faculty members are board certified by the American College of Theriogenologists.

Behavior

Our Equine Behavior Program and Laboratory at New Bolton Center has grown from within the Section of Reproductive Studies. Since the early 1980s, the program, has had research as its core activity. The program has included involvement in related clinical and teaching in the veterinary school and continuing education programs nationally and internationally.

Faculty
- Leonardo Brito, DVM, PhD, DACT, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Reproduction, Section Chief, Reproduction & Behavior
- Tamara Dobbie, DVM, DACT, Director, Hofmann Center, Associate Professor of Clinical Reproduction
- Katrin Hinrichs, DVM, PhD, DACT, Professor of Reproduction, Harry Werner Endowed Professor of Equine Medicine, and Chair, Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center
- Sue McDonnell, MS, PhD, CAAB, HMACT, Adjunct Professor, of Reproduction Behavior, Clinical Associate
- Patricia Sertich, VMD, DACT, Associate Professor of Reproduction
- Regina Turner, VMD, DACT, Professor of Reproduction
- Dr. Roland Bowman, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Reproduction
- Dr. Kim Gleason, Equine ICSI Program Coordinator
- Dr. Matheus Felix, Embryologist
Residents
- Jenna Ward, DVM
- Laura Elizabeth Suárez López, DVM
Surgery Surgery
The Section of Surgery encompasses faculty and staff dedicated to Emergency & Critical Care, Large Animal Surgery, and Sports Medicine.

Emergency & Critical Care

Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center offers one of the nation’s few Emergency & Critical Care programs specifically dedicated to large animals. We have a team of dual board certified specialists trained in emergency/critical care, surgery and medicine that is available every hour of every day of the year and a nursing staff second to none.
- Learn more about Emergency & Critical Care...
Large Animal Surgery

Our surgeons are internationally recognized experts providing a complete array of sophisticated procedures including modern minimally invasive techniques such as arthroscopy, endoscopy, laparoscopy, laser and cryo-surgery.

New Bolton Center’s surgical suite in the C. Mahlon Kline Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Center has state-of-the-art equipment for complex fracture repair, special air-handling capabilities to minimize surgical site contamination and a unique pool/raft recovery system. We have intraoperative computed tomography (CT scans) and fluoroscopy that allow the most accurate repair of even the most difficult fractures.
- Learn more about Large Animal Surgery...
Sports Medicine

New Bolton Center is one of the world leaders in equine sports medicine. Our multidisciplinary team of board-certified internists, surgeons and sports medicine and rehabilitation specialists, in partnership with an internationally renowned farrier and specialized sports medicine and imaging technicians, evaluate and treat the equine athlete.

Our Equine Performance Clinic specializes in:
- Clinical evaluation of lameness
- Rehabilitation of horses following an injury
- Purchase examinations
- Poor performance examinations
We evaluate equine performance in the newly constructed Equine Performance Evaluation Facility, a state-of-the-art indoor facility. For comprehensive evaluation while a horse is exercising, we use both the Jeffords high-speed treadmill and over-ground dynamic endoscopy (miniaturized cameras/recorders attached to an endoscope that can evaluate a horse as it is being ridden).
- Learn more about Sports Medicine ...
Both our Sports Medicine clinicians and surgeons benefit from state of the art imaging modalities (digital radiography, nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), exceptional quality ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT). We have introduced robotic CT done in standing horses. In addition to the exceptional and tireless clinical work our faculty perform on a daily basis, they conduct groundbreaking research in their individual fields.

Faculty & Staff

Emergency & Critical Care
- Maia Aitken, DVM, DACVS, DACVECC, Assistant Professor, Clinical Emergency Medicine and Critical Care
- Barbara Dallap Schaer, VMD, DACVECC, DACVS (E&CC), Professor of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Hospital Medical Director, New Bolton Center
- Janet Johnston, DVM, DACVIM, DACVS (E&CC), Staff Veterinarian, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care
- Tate Buxton Morris, DVM, DACVS, Lecturer in Large Animal Surgery and Emergency and Critical Care
- Louise Southwood, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, DACVECC, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care
Large Animal Surgery
- Eric Parente, DVM, DACVS, Professor of Surgery, Service Chief of Large Animal Surgery
- Marie Eve Fecteau, DVM, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Surgery, Section Chief of Large Animal Surgery
- José M. García-López, VMD, DACVS, DACVSMR, Associate Professor of Large Animal Surgery
- David G. Levine, DVM, DACVS, DACSMR, Associate Professor of Clinical Large Animal Surgery
- Tate Buxton Morris, DVM, DACVS, Lecturer in Large Animal Surgery and Emergency and Critical Care
- James Orsini, DVM, DACVS, Associate Professor of Surgery
- Kyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACSMR, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Jacques Jenny Endowed Term Chair in Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Sports Medicine
- Elizabeth J. Davidson, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, Associate Professor of Equine Sports Medicine
- David G. Levine, DVM, DACVS, DACSMR, Associate Professor of Clinical Large Animal Surgery
- Kyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACSMR, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery, Jacques Jenny Endowed Term Chair in Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
- Kara Brown, VMD, Lecturer, Equine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Research Investigators
- Thomas Schaer, VMD, Sr. Research Investigator (PSC-CORL)
- Dr. Feikun Yang, Research Associate (Surgery)
Surgery Residents
- Alycia Crandall, DVM
- Virginia Melly, MVB
- Jairo Perez, DVM
- Caitlin Smith,DVM
- Catherine Thurston, VMD
- Katrijn Whisenant, DVM
Musculoskeletal Research Fellow
- Alexandra Usimaki, DVM
CORL Research Fellows
- Madeline Boyes, DVM
Surgery Interns
- Dr. Alexa Bish-Jones
- Dr. Sarah Ciamillo
- Dr. Rachel Hilliard
- Dr. Kaitlyn Jonk
- Dr. Stephanie Ortiz Gutierrez
- Dr. Meredith Rudnick

Research Centers & Laboratories at New Bolton Center

Animal Model Core & Comparative Orthopedic Research Lab (CORL)

The Animal Model Core at Penn Vet New Bolton Center at the intersection of science and the rapid advancements in health care technology is an ecosystem supporting the continuum from discovery to invention to innovation in medical translation. We are invested in understanding the value proposition of emerging technologies under consideration and how they target unmet clinical needs. This process informs animal model development to enhance scientific rigor during in vivo studies in experimental or naturally occurring disease models. Studies can be iterative starting on a small scale leading towards pivotal non-clinical IND/IDE-enabling trials in support of FDA or OUS-FDA submissions.
Read More About The Animal Model Core & Comparative Orthopedic Research Lab (CORL)
ASMG Laboratory - Microbial Genomics

The Role of Microbes in Mediating Methane Emissions Final Colloquium Report Released

Increased greenhouse gases leading to climate change are recognized as the main driver of record-breaking global heatwaves, which threaten human health and well-being. Microorganisms are important producers and consumers of major greenhouse gases, including methane (CH4). CH4 is ~80 times as po- tent as CO2 on a mass basis at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period, significantly contributing to a warming planet. More.

Could we breed cows that emit less methane?

[August 2, 2023; Philadelphia, PA] Reducing methane emissions from livestock would benefit farmers and the environment. In a first step towards breeding low-methane-emitting cows, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Pennsylvania State University have identified key differences between cows that naturally emit less methane than average. More.

Dipti Pitta, PhD, Named Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine

[October 10, 2022; Philadelphia, PA] – Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has named Dipti Pitta, PhD, an internationally recognized scholar working at the interface of microbiology, agriculture, and dairy nutrition, the Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Associate Professor. More.

The Agricultural Systems and Microbial Genomics (ASMG) Laboratory was established to support Dr. Dou and Dr. Pitta in their research endeavors

Dr. Pitta is the ruminant nutritionist and microbiologist at the Center for Animal Health and Productivity (CAHP), New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania.

Research at the ASMG lab focuses primarily on the gut microbial composition of ruminants utilizing advanced molecular methodologies. The alimentary tract of a ruminant is colonized by millions of microbes living in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Therefore, knowledge of the microbial composition of the entire gut can provide insights into improving the overall health and productivity of the animal.

The advent of next generation sequencers has greatly enhanced our ability to explore community microbial populations. The ASMG lab has the capabilities to isolate bacteria and methanogens from the gastrointestinal contents of different ruminant species as well as apply multi-omic approaches to better characterize and understand the functional potential of rumen microbiota. The primary areas of focus include deciphering dietary-microbe, microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions that play essential roles in maintaining health and production while also minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Research efforts at ASMG are to understand the role of microbiota in ruminal methanogenesis and determine the impacts of different inhibitors on enteric methane inhibition, application of precision technologies to advance animal productivity and early life microbial interventions to improve health and welfare, and productivity of dairy cattle. Please research projects for further details.

In addition, The ASMG group collaborates with other researchers and clinicians both within the University of Pennsylvania as well as at other institutions. Research findings are disseminated via publications and are presented at conferences. The ASMG group strives to educate and train next generation students in application of microbial genomics to help address global issues such as Food Insecurity, Climate Change, Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and Mitigation of Antimicrobial Resistance. Opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, ranging from high school through postdoctoral are available at ASMG laboratory to further their careers in microbial genomics and its applications
Read More About The ASMG Laboratory - Microbial Genomics
Equine Pharmacology Research Laboratory

Our Mission: The mission of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at New Bolton Center is to promote the welfare of the working horse and the integrity of sport through pharmacological and forensic research.

Learn about us and our research...

Read More About The Equine Pharmacology Research Laboratory
Havemeyer Equine Behavior Research Lab

The Equine Behavior Program and Laboratory at New Bolton Center has grown from within the Section of Reproductive Studies. Since the early 1980s the program, has had research as its core activity. The program has included involvement in related clinical and teaching in the veterinary school and continuing education programs nationally and internationally. The initial research focus of the laboratory was on stallion reproductive physiology and behavior.

Early research concentrated on the physiology and pharmacology of libido, erection, and ejaculation, with immediate application to clinical problems in breeding stallions and with relevance to the understanding of human sexual dysfunction.

Another long-standing research interest of our laboratory has been the effects of experience on sexual function. In the 1990s our research and clinical work expanded beyond stallions to include reproductive and general behavior problems of horses.

The Behavior Lab is housed in The Havemeyer Barn at The Georgia and Philip Hofmann Center for Animal Reproduction.
Read More About The Havemeyer Equine Behavior Research Lab
Marshak Dairy

The Marshak Dairy is named in honor of Robert Marshak, the ninth dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine whose support was instrumental in establishing the farm. Built in 1996, the greenhouse dairy was the first of its kind and was recognized as a dairy of distinction in 1998. The greenhouse design uses natural lighting and excellent ventilation within the barn to promote a healthy environment for the cows.

The Marshak Dairy provides an easily accessible working dairy farm for research trials. In addition, the Dairy serves as a laboratory for teaching students on topics related to cow healthcare, preventive medicine, nutrition and food safety.
Read More About The Marshak Dairy
Ortved Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
Joint injuries are overwhelmingly common in both human and equine athletes. Chondrocytes, the sole cell type in cartilage, are responsible for producing and maintaining the extra-cellular matrix (ECM), which affords remarkable tensile and compressive strength to the joint surface. Once damaged, cartilage has little to no ability to heal itself. Therefore, post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) commonly develops following joint trauma, whether sustained during an acute injury or accumulated overtime.

Lab Mission
- To improve cartilage repair using stem cell and gene therapy.
- To limit the long-term effects of joint trauma through gene therapy immunomodulation of the joint.
- To further elucidate the pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).
Read More About The Ortved Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
PEARL-Penn Equine Assisted Reproduction Laboratory

Led by Katrin Hinrichs, DVM, PhD, DACT, the Harry Werner Endowed Professor of Equine Medicine and Chair of the Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, the Penn Equine Assisted Reproduction Laboratory (PEARL) performs both research and clinical work in equine assisted reproduction. The Laboratory conducts research into equine sperm capacitation (readiness for fertilization), oocyte maturation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), standard in vitro fertilization, and equine embryo development, and is one of the few laboratories in the United States performing clinical ICSI to produce foals from client mares and stallions. Dr. Hinrichs has pioneered research in these areas, producing the first foal from ICSI and embryo culture in North America in 2003, and the first cloned horse foal in North America in 2005.

Dr. Hinrichs’ research has established methods for equine assisted reproductive techniques that are now used clinically worldwide, including methods for successfully holding and shipping equine oocytes, for performing equine embryo biopsy, which allows genetic diagnosis of embryos before transfer to avoid production of foals with genetic diseases, and methods for successful vitrification (freezing) of expanded equine blastocysts, which allows embryos to be produced from older or valuable mares year-round while still supporting the production of foals that have early birth dates.
Read More About The PEARL-Penn Equine Assisted Reproduction Laboratory
Reference Andrology Laboratory

The Reference Andrology Laboratory provides complete testing of neat, cooled and frozen-thawed semen from mammalian and avian species. The primary purpose of these services is to aid practitioners in their differential diagnosis of individual/herd/flock reproductive problems.

These services are also frequently used by practitioners and studs as a third-party quality control component in an ongoing stud auditing process.

The laboratory strives to perform objective, validated techniques for assessing samples for the basic spermiogram parameters of sample volume, motility, morphology, and concentration. With advanced notification, we will also try to accommodate requests for supplemental assessment techniques on sperm subcellular structures. We also offer semen extender analysis and microbiological testing of the extended semen product and purified water used in extenders.
Read More About The Reference Andrology Laboratory
Swine Teaching and Research Center
Today the US swine industry finds itself confronted with rapidly changing public opinion and policy on how gestating sows should be housed. Penn Vet is uniquely positioned to provide the industry with relevant scientific data collected from this living laboratory. Read More About The Swine Teaching and Research Center
van Eps Laminitis Laboratory
The van Eps Laminitis and Endocrinology Laboratory at New Bolton Center is focused on understanding the key events that drive laminitis under different circumstances in order to develop reliable means of prevention and treatment.

We take a multidisciplinary approach to the study of laminitis utilizing
- Advanced imaging and sensor-based techniques to evaluate structure and function of the foot in health and disease
- Molecular techniques to examine events at a tissue level.
- Biomechanical testing to study mechanical function both in vivo and ex vivo
We are also focused on developing and refining tests and novel biomarkers of endocrine dysfunction, the most common cause of laminitis in horses and ponies.

More about the van Eps Lab
Read More About The van Eps Laminitis Laboratory