The University of Kentucky (UK) has officially opened its Sports Medicine Research Center (SMRC) at the Gluck Equine Research Center, part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE). A ribbon-cutting ceremony held on October 30 marked the facility’s inauguration, which features the Cosequin Equine Exerciser and a remodeled barn at the university’s North Farm in Lexington.
The SMRC aims to enhance education and research focused on equine musculoskeletal diseases and injuries, which are significant welfare concerns for horse owners and a primary source of economic loss in the equine industry. “This facility will provide novel research opportunities that focus on the improvement of equine welfare and safety and provide an unparalleled learning experience for graduate and undergraduate students,” said Bruno Menarim, DVM, PhD, the Bill Gatton Foundation Endowed Chair in Veterinary Physiology and head of the SMRC.
Menarim noted that the center will enable federally funded translational research opportunities that also seek to improve human well-being, particularly through studies on orthopedic conditions that affect both horses and humans.
The development of the SMRC was led by a team of UK researchers, including Menarim, Allen Page, DVM, PhD, Austin Stone, MD, PhD, and Emma Adam, DVM, PhD. Funding for the facility came through partnerships with various equine industry stakeholders including Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences Inc., Keeneland, Spy Coast Farm, and Town and Country Farm. A significant contribution from Nutramax facilitated the construction of the new eight-horse exerciser.
“Nutramax is delighted to support the Gluck Equine Research Center in the development of the Sports Medicine Research Center,” said Todd Henderson, DVM, president of Nutramax Laboratories. He stressed the center’s role in advancing equine health research and creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience.
Musculoskeletal conditions, like degenerative joint disease, are critical concerns, accounting for over 60% of equine cases and posing challenges not only for the horse population but also for human health. Osteoarthritis, for instance, holds significant financial implications for the U.S. public health system, ranking just behind cancer in costs.
The research team emphasized UK’s unique position in the equine industry, combining expertise and collaboration to address these challenges effectively. The facility, which has already been booked for research projects through 2028, includes a renovated 12-stall barn and is situated on 26 acres of the 1,900-acre North Farm.
Plans for further expansion include an additional barn to accommodate more exercisers, a surgical suite, and laboratory spaces. The center aims to provide hands-on educational experiences for students across multiple disciplines within Martin-Gatton CAFE.
“This center reflects what is possible when our researchers and industry partners come together around a shared goal,” said Laura Stephenson, vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of Martin-Gatton CAFE. “We are grateful to Nutramax and the other partners whose support has created new opportunities to advance equine health and welfare.”
A grand opening and open house for the SMRC are scheduled for April 2027, where attendees will be able to explore the center’s research and impact.
“The Sports Medicine Research Center will enable the faculty at the Gluck Equine Research Center to leverage their talent for the benefit of the horse and human,” added Brett Sponseller, DVM, PhD, chair of UK’s Department of Veterinary Science and director of the Gluck Center.
