Equine Genetics & Genomics
Dr Brandon D Velie

The main focus of my research is the intersection of genomics and biological homeostasis with particular emphasis on the industry application of this information. Essentially, I am profoundly interested in the discovery and function of genes that underpin disease, athletic performance, and behaviour in horses. As someone who is actively involved in the horse industry outside of academia, the majority of my research tends to also include aspects of how the knowledge gained from research can be readily applied by equine professionals to improve horse well-being.
A list of my publications can be found here.
Elouise Bacon
PhD Student

Elouise's PhD work combines state-of-the-art genomic technologies (whole-genome scans, next-generation sequencing, and advanced bioinformatics) with deep knowledge on the physiology of the horse to identify genetic variants associated with analgesics sensitivity in horses, further opening the door to the application of precision medicine in equids.
Group Alumni
Group Alumni
Dr Maria Rosengren
PhD (2022)
[SLU]

Maria investigated the genetics of athletic performance in Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded trotters and the genetics of conformation traits in Icelandic horses. She was co-supervised with Professor Gabriella Lindgren at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Dr Evelyn Todd
PhD (2021)
Evelyn's PhD work focused on population and quantitative genetics in Thoroughbred racehorses. She is particularly interested in understanding how population history events and selective breeding practices influence genomic changes in horses.
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Internship Students






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International Collaborations
Horse Genome Consortium
A cooperative international effort by more than 100 scientists from 25 countries to define the genome of the domestic horse: https://horsegenomeworkshop.com/

International consortium of university researchers and representatives of equine organisations with the aim of identifying genetic markers associated with disease and performance traits in horses (HORSEGENE).

A global initiative to understand the underlying mechanisms of diseases by developing a database of tissue-specific gene expression and regulation in the horse.