Speakers
Stephanie Valberg
ValbergNMDL.com
Dr. Stephanie Valberg is an international leader in equine neuromuscular disorders having served as a Professor at the University of Minnesota and an endowed chair at Michigan State University. She currently directs the muscle biopsy service ValbergNMDL.com. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College and her PhD in equine exercise physiology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. She is board certified in large animal internal medicine and veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. The overarching goal of Valberg’s research and clinical work has been to define the basis for neuromuscular disorders in horses, develop accurate, minimally invasive diagnostic tests, and produce optimal methods for preventing or managing performance limiting diseases. Her research has led to the discovery of numerous muscle disorders. Dr Valberg is the recipient of several honors including delivery of the Milne Lecture at the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2012 and she was the first woman to be inducted into the Equine Research Hall of Fame. Dr Valberg received a lifetime Achievement Award from the ACVIM in 2024 and a 2019 Alumni Achievement Award from UC Davis. She has twice received the Pfizer Research Excellence Award. She has over 200 peer reviewed publications.
Dr. Valberg is an avid equestrian with two horses, Cajun and Razzle, and has competed in three-day eventing, dressage and show jumping.
Rachel C. Murray
Consultant, Veterinary Specialist
Rachel is a highly experienced Sport Horse Clinician based at Rossdales Diagnostic Centre. She joined our team in October 2019, having spent more than 20 years at the Animal Health Trust, where she was responsible for the Equine MRI diagnostic service, ran the orthopaedic research group, and provided a clinical service focused on imaging, poor performance, and rehabilitation in sport horses.
Rachel graduated from the University of Cambridge before specialising in equine surgery, undertaking an internship and surgical residency in the USA, and becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. After 5 years in the USA, she returned to England as an equine surgeon at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School. She subsequently completed a PhD, investigating exercise-associated joint adaptation and injury in horses.
She has led many studies investigating sport horse training, injury, and performance, including those for British Dressage, British Eventing, British Equestrian Federation, and the FEI. She has also published numerous articles on orthopaedic problems and advanced imaging in horses, contributed to a number of books and edited the standard text on Equine MRI.
Rachel also works for the British Equestrian Federation in various roles, from scientific advice to practical veterinary assessments with various GB squads. Rachel has been providing advice for the BEF World Class Programme since 2009 and has been integrally involved in the maintenance and preparation of numerous team horses for the Championships and Olympic Games. She is an FEI treating veterinarian, has worked as a veterinary surgeon with the GB Dressage and Showjumping teams, including as a team vet, and was an official treating veterinarian at the 2012 Olympics.
Rachel has experience training and competing horses to Grand Prix and international level dressage, has competed in a variety of equestrian sports, and is a BHS-accredited professional coach.
Harold Schott
Michigan State University
Dr. Schott received his DVM degree in 1984 from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He started his career with three years in private equine practice in Southern California. Dr. Schott subsequently pursued advanced training by completing a residency in equine internal medicine and a PhD in equine exercise physiology at Washington State University. Since 1995, Dr. Schott has been an equine medicine clinician at Michigan State University (MSU) with a strong clinical interest in urinary tract disorders and endocrinological disorders, with a focus on pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Dr. Schott is a member of the Equine Endocrinology group and was the group leader for preparing the expert opinion document “Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction” in 2017 and 2019. Over the past few years Dr. Schott has also developed a strong interest in providing care to working equids in Mexico. In 2017 he developed a 2 week clinical experience taking MSU students annually to work with Mexican veterinarians and veterinary students to provide veterinary care to burros, mules, and horses in rural Mexican communities.
Pat Harris
Waltham Petcare Science Institute
After qualifying from Cambridge, Pat completed her PhD at the AHT into the Equine Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome. She joined the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute in 1995 and is responsible for their equine research conducted in collaboration with experts at institutes and universities globally. This provides the science behind the SPILLERSTM, BUCKEYETM Nutrition and WINERGYTM brands. Pat is a European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical and Comparative Nutrition, a RCVS recognised specialist in veterinary clinical nutrition (equine) and a BEVA Past-President. She is the author or co-author of over 500 scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters with recent emphasis on obesity, laminitis and senior horse nutrition.
Gunther van Loon
Ghent University
Gunther van Loon graduated from Ghent University, Belgium, in 1992 and has worked at Ghent University, Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, ever since. In 2001 he finished his PhD on “Atrial pacing and experimental atrial fibrillation in equines”. In 2004 he became ECEIM Diplomate and in 2011 Associate Member of ECVDI. In 2015 he received the ‘WEVA Research Award’ for outstanding research regarding ‘Advances in Equine Cardiology’. He is now Professor in Large Animal Internal Medicine at Ghent University and his major interests are Equine Internal Medicine, cardiology (arrhythmias, electrophysiology, cardiac pacing, echocardiography, TDI, 2D ST, biomarkers), and thoracic and abdominal ultrasound.
Soraya Shirazi-Beechey
University of Liverpool
Professor Soraya Shirazi-Beechey is a renowned scientist and educator whose research has made significant contributions to the fields of molecular physiology and biochemistry. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from London University, Professor Shirazi-Beechey’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for a career dedicated to advancing our understanding of gastrointestinal physiology and the interactions between diet, nutrient transport, and gut microbiota.
Since 2000, Professor Shirazi-Beechey has held a prestigious Personal Chair at the University of Liverpool, where her work has been instrumental in advancing scientific knowledge within the Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences. Her prior appointments include a Wellcome Trust Senior Lectureship at both the University of Liverpool and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, as well as a role as Reader at Liverpool, reflecting a career marked by both academic and research excellence.
Professor Shirazi-Beechey’s groundbreaking contributions to science have earned her international acclaim. In 2018, she was awarded the American Society of Animal Science President’s Award for her pioneering research in animal science, which has significantly improved livestock health, welfare, and productivity. Her work has also identified novel mechanisms in intestinal nutrient sensing and diet-gut microbiota interactions. Further recognition came in 2011 with her Honorary Associateship from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, acknowledging her impactful contributions to veterinary research and education.
Her research interests focus on comparative gastrointestinal physiology, the mechanisms of intestinal nutrient transport and regulation, nutrient sensing and signaling within the intestinal epithelium, and the complex interactions between gut microbiota and host health. Professor Shirazi-Beechey’s work continues to influence and shape critical advancements in molecular physiology, with a profound impact on both scientific research and practical applications in animal and human health.
Wendy Pearson
Associate Professor, University of Guelph, Canada
Wendy Pearson (PhD.) is a life-long horse enthusiast. She worked in the thoroughbred racing industry in New Zealand and Canada between 1990 and 2002, during which time she also spent 6 years as a Research Associate at the Equine Research Centre at the University of Guelph. Wendy completed an MSc (Nutritional Toxicology) and a PhD (Biomedical Toxicology) at the University of Guelph with specialization in medicinal herbs and nutraceutical supplements for animals, during which time she founded and was President of the Nutraceutical Alliance Inc. and Lindenfarne Horse Park until 2018. She is currently Associate Professor of Equine Physiology in the Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Canada. Her research focuses on developing in vitro and in vivo models to advance our understanding of inflammatory conditions affecting horses and their prevention by targeted nutrition.
Michael Lindinger
Consultant
Dr. Michael Lindinger is a comparative animal physiologist by training, with evolution into equine nutrition and nutraceutical supplements for horses, humans and other animals. After retiring from the University of Guelph after 25 years he owned and operated an equine research farm and a nutraceuticals consulting business. He continues to develop unique nutraceutical product lines for clients, and develops and manages large research programs and projects. He brings an extensive basic and applied research background in equine physiology and nutrition and looks forward to participating in another very interesting EEHNC.
Carolien Munsters
Utrecht University
Dr. Carolien Munsters is a specialist in equine sports physiology and earned her Ph.D. in this field in 2013 from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, focusing on the welfare and training of sport horses. Through her company, Equine Integration, she aims to enhance equestrian sports and horse welfare her mission is to promote equestrian sports and the welfare of horses. This by translating scientific knowledge and measurements into practice in order to support riders, trainers and coaches to improve the performance and welfare of their horses. For many years Carolien supports and advises various (inter)national equestrian athletes, Olympic teams, passionate amateurs, coaches and trainers in the field of exercise physiology of horses. She has contributed to team guidance of the Olympic Games in London, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Paris. She also coaches international sport horse-rider combinations in various disciplines to European and World championships. In addition to the coaching of (elite) sport horses, she is active as a researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and author of several peer-reviewed scientific articles with focus on welfare, load and load capacity, performance and injuries in sport horses. Furthermore, she lectures at (inter)national scientific conferences and is active as project coordinator of the Sport Horse Welfare Foundation and as embedded scientist in equestrian sports for the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC* NSF).
Aagje Hardeman
DataHorse
Aagje Hardeman (1986) graduated from Utrecht University (NL) in 2012, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Afterwards, she went to the BackBone Academy in Germany, to become a certified equine chiropractor.
In 2014, she moved to Germany to work at Tierklinik Lüsche, one of the biggest referral hospitals in Europe, where she has been part of the orthopaedic and rehabilitation team. Simultaneously, she did her PhD, supervised by Prof. Dr. René van Weeren (Utrecht, The Netherlands) and Prof. Dr. Lars Roepstorff (Uppsala, Sweden). Her entire PhD was focused on the clinical application of quantitative gait analysis in horses. She defended her dissertation in 2021 at Utrecht University.
After moving back to the Netherlands, she started her own business DataHorse, which focuses on the clinical implication of quantitative gait analysis in several clinics and practices, as well as for individual patients. In 2023, she founded the Equine Gait Analysis Society (EGAS) together with Dr. Filipe Serra Bragança. The EGAS provides (post-academic) education around the clinical application of quantitative gait analysis in horses.
Grown up between horses and being a dressage rider (PSG level), instructor and judge herself, she is well-motivated to share her knowledge about the clinical application of quantitative gait analysis in horses.
Filipe Manuel Serra Bragança
Utrecht University
Filipe Manuel Serra Bragança was born in 1988 in Portugal. He graduated in 2013, from the Veterinary University of Lisbon. After graduation, he performed his internship at an equine practice in the UK. In late 2014 he started his PhD at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) performing research in biomechanics and equine locomotion, focusing on objective gait analysis. The main goal of his PhD was the further development and clinical implementation of techniques of objective gait analysis and lameness assessment in the horse based on motion-capture and IMU-sensor technology. After his PhD, he leads the locomotion research group at Utrecht University until 2024. Currently, he works at Sleip AI, which developed a mobile phone gait analysis application for Horses. He is also a co-founder of the Equine Gait Analysis Society (EGAS), which provides post-graduate education on gait analysis for lameness assessment in horses.
Ingrid Vervuert
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University
Prof. Ingrid Vervuert is a veterinarian, and she did her doctoral degree in Animal Nutrition. She is a diplomate in Animal Nutrition and Dietetics. In June 2019, Prof. Vervuert has been appointed as a professor. Currently, Prof. Ingrid Vervuert is in charge of the entire spectrum of teaching and research in the Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Leipzig. In addition, she is the head of the nutritional consultation service for veterinarians and animal holders. Her research areas are focused on obesity, minerals and the prevention of gastric ulcers in equines. In addition, current project focus on poisoning plants and the voluntary intake behaviour in horses as well as on forage strategies to compensate forage shortage by climate changes in equines.
Robin van den Boom
Utrecht University
Robin van den Boom graduated with honours From Utrecht University in 1996 and started his training in Equine Surgery. In 2002 he was registered as specialist in Equine Surgery bij the KNMvD (Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association, RNVA) and in 2004 he successfully completed his PhD on synovial fluid of the horse.
After completing his PhD Dr. van den Boom trained as a resident in Equine Internal Medicine and in 2009 passed the specialist exams of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine.
From September 2014 until February 2017 Robin was Head of the Department of Equine Health at the University of Adelaide (Australia) but since March 2017 he is, once more, a member of the Equine Medicine team at Utrecht. Recently his research has focussed on equine dermatology (in particular Insect Bite Hypersensitivity) and gastrointestinal problems (colic).
Lieuwke Kranenburg
Utrecht University
Lieuwke Kranenburg graduated in 2003 from Utrecht University. She worked in a mixed small animal/equine practice in Weesp for three years. After which she returned for an equine internship at the Department of Equine Sciences from Utrecht University followed by an equine medicine residency. After completing the residency and passing the boards exam of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine in 2011 she worked as a equine medicine specialist for three years at Dierenkliniek Emmeloord.
In 2014 she returned to Utrecht University at which she has worked since.
She is responsible for the equine digestive programs in the bachelor and master. And she also is the equine represent for the subject of clinical reasoning.
She is involved in research projects which mainly include equine digestive issues such as sand colic, inflammatory bowel disease and gastric ulcers.
Lieuwke is a past member of the NEVA board and past FEEVA representative for the Netherlands.
Cornélie Westermann
Utrecht University
Cornélie Westermann is a veterinarian and European Specialist/ Diplomate in Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM). Her PhD research was on equine muscle metabolism and atypical myopathy.
Her clinical work at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, includes all aspects of equine internal medicine, including patient care and clinical teaching within this patient care.
Cornélie is the Director of Education of the Veterinary School.
Her main research topics are respiratory diseases, muscle diseases, and education.
Astrid van den Brom – Spierenburg
Utrecht University
Astrid van den Brom – Spierenburg (DVM, DipECEIM) got her veterinary degree in 2007 in Utrecht. After some years in practice, she started her residency in equine internal medicine at the Utrecht University Equine Clinic and is still working there today as a European Specialist Equine Internal Medicine (DipECEIM). In this job, she has the opportunity to combine clinical care with teaching and research. Her PhD research is on infectious diseases in foals, but respiratory medicine is one of her other favourite subjects.
Irene Tosi
Liège University
Dr. Irene Tosi, DVM, PhD, ECVSMR Initial Applicant
Irene obtained her PhD on muscle metabolism in horses and dogs in 2021, she is currently initial applicant of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is in charge of consultations for poor performance and exercise-related diseases in horses and she participates to physiology courses at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Liège, Belgium. Her topics of interest and research are exercise-induced muscular pathologies, chronic airway inflammatory diseases and respiratory immunity.
Joe D. Pagan
Kentucky Equine Research
Dr. Pagan received his B.S.A. degree from the University of Arkansas in animal nutrition and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University in equine nutrition and exercise physiology.
He formed Kentucky Equine Research in 1988 to be an international research, consulting and product development firm dealing in the areas of equine nutrition and sports medicine.
Kentucky Equine Research has served as equine nutrition consultants for seven Olympic Gamesand was the Official Equine Nutritionist for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Dr. Pagan received the 2005 American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Award in Equine Nutrition Research. This award recognizes excellence in equine nutrition research and the contributions of an individual to equine feeding management practices and the equine feed industry.
Tatiana Art
Liège University
Prof. Tatiana Art, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECEIM, Dipl. ECVSMR
Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Liège, Belgium. She in charge of Physiology courses at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Responsible of the Department of Sports Medicine. Her research has been focused throughout her career on comparative exercise physiology, cardio-vascular adaptations to exercise and chronic airway inflammatory diseases in horses
Samy Julliand
Lab To Field
Samy Julliand holds an engineering degree in biology (AgroParisTech 2007), complemented by a PhD on the pathogenesis of equine glandular gastric disease (University of Burgundy 2024). After some international research experiences, Samy Julliand created Lab To Field in 2012. Located in Dijon (France), Lab To Field is a research organization that conducts projects as part of public basic research programs or in response to applied questions from manufacturers. The organization has its own farm dedicated to research in monogastrics and ruminants, including a stable enabling controlled conditions for horse projects, as well as biochemistry and microbiology laboratories. It specializes in the study of the relationships between diet, digestion, and health / performance in animals. Consequently, the analysis of gastrointestinal microbiota is at the heart of Lab To Field's expertise, as are the interactions between digestive microbiota and the host. In connection with this topic, Samy has been involved in the management of research programs on microbiota and immunity, evolution of microbiota and fibrolytic function with ageing, interactions between diet-microbiota-parasitism, effect of microbiota on athletic performance, etc. In order to share the knowledge that comes from research, Samy participated in the scientific committee of the European Workshop on Equine Nutrition from 2018 to 2024 and initiated the applied congress “Equine Nutrition & Science” in 2018.
Emanuela Valle
University of Turin
Emanuela Valle, Full Professor at the University of Turin, is a European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (EBVS®). She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Production, focusing on oxidative stress in animals, and refined her expertise at Virginia Tech’s MARE Center (USA), studying the impact of exercise on equine health. Emanuela is dedicated to promoting equine welfare by exploring how nutrition, management, and exercise influence horse well-being. Her research investigates innovative feeding devices and their effects on posture, forage efficiency, and intake, using precision tools (PLFs) to optimize management and feeding strategies. She leads the Equine Nutritional Consultancy Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, sharing her insights at international conferences and equestrian sport federation events. Emanuela is also interested in educational innovation, developing strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in equine studies. An active member of international societies and charity board, including Progetto Islander, she advises companies on equine feed and equipment innovation. She has contributed to the veterinary profession as a former board member of the Veterinary Medical Association of Turin and serves as secretary of the EAAP Horse Study Commission.
Tresemiek Picavet
DBP Veterinary Services
1984 Graduated in Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium.
1984-1985: Surgery Department Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent: equine orthopedic examinations, research and medical imaging horse under supervision of Professor Verschooten.
1986-1992: Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, supervised by Professor Oyaert, Professor Muylle, and Dr. Nuytten.
Special interest in equine respiratory horses, exercise physiology and gastro-intestinal .
1992 - 2014 specialist in equine internal medicine and responsible for equine anaesthesia in De Bosdreef.
2004 Diplomate Equine Internal Medicin ECEIM.
From 2014 till now private equine referral practice DBP Veterinary Services, Spelonckvaart 44, 9180 Moerbeke-Waas, Belgium.
Chair of the Flemish Scientific Horse Health Association, member of the Education and Credentials Committee of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine
Married to Paul De Baerdemaeker, 2 children. Hobby’s: friends, reading, horse riding.
Caroline Loos
Cavalor
After receiving her PhD in 2018, Dr. Caroline Loos remained at the University of Kentucky where she worked as a Postdoctoral Scientist till December 2022. From 2023 onwards she started working as equine nutritionist and researcher for Cavalor (USA).
Her PhD and Postdoctoral research program focused on equine nutrition, physiology, and endocrinology. More specifically, the research objectives of her PhD, and much of her postdoctoral work, were to investigate the effect of diet and disease on muscle protein metabolism. Caroline has conducted several studies looking at the impact of dietary protein quantity and quality on the activation of skeletal muscle anabolic signaling pathways. She also has a strong interest in the field of endocrinology, in particular with regards to equine insulin dysregulation and metabolic syndrome. Caroline has completed several research trials investigating the effect of dietary protein levels on hyperinsulinemia and conversely, how insulin resistance may affect whole body and muscle protein metabolism. She also looked at the therapeutic potential of specific plant-derived extracts and other dietary additives in the treatment and management of horses with insulin dysregulation. Currently, Caroline is involved in several projects looking at the effect of diet and insulin resistance on gut health and gut permeability.
Caroline Loos was born and raised in Belgium but has been living in Lexington, KY, USA, for the last 12 years. She has been working in different sectors of the equine industry for over 15 years and works as a nutritional consultant for the equine feed industry.
Caroline is also an avid endurance rider and through her life’s passion and career hopes to make a difference in horse welfare and performance.
Andrea Ellis
UNEQUI
Dr Andrea D. Ellis is a renowned equine scientist, whose early research (PhD) focused on food intake behaviour and nutrient digestion in horses and sheep, and set her on a path of becoming a specialist in equine nutrition and behaviour. After working as a Scientific Researcher in the The Netherlands, for four years with a focus on nutrition and developmental bone disease and on nutrient evaluation systems for horses, she joined Nottingham Trent University as Senior Lecturer, where she led the design of an MSc in Equine Health and Welfare.
Andrea now runs her own consultation company UNEQUI, Science and Creativity. She is passionate about animal nutrition and welfare, good science and biology education. Her equine research focus has been food intake behaviour and ethological requirements, as well as behavioural markers of welfare (e.g. ridden horse pain ethogram) and changing human behaviour towards better animal welfare. Andrea lectures and carries out research in Nutrition, Behaviour, Welfare and Ethics at various institutions, such as the University of Edinburgh and Nottingham Trent University and collaborated on the first Global Equine Nutrition Course on ANIVADO.com. She supports the ESVCN as executive administrator and recently enjoyed co-ordinating on-line congress delivery. Through the UNEQUI creativity arm, Andrea also provides illustrations, event photography, clay-art and scientific drawings.
Ellen Roelfsema
Ellen Roelfsema DVM, PHD, DIP ECEIM graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University in 1999 where she then went on to complete a residency in Equine Internal Medicine and a PhD in Equine Exercise Physiology. In 2006 she was registered as specialist in Equine Internal Medicine by the KNMvD (Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association, RNVA) and in 2012 she became specialist of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM). In 2007 she successfully completed her PhD entitled: “ Endocrinological and behavioral adaptations to experimentally induced physical stress in horses”. Currently, Dr. de Graaf-Roelfsema is assistant professor at the Department of Equine Internal Medicine, Utrecht University where she works as a specialist in the University Clinic for Horses and has teaching as well as research responsibilities. Her clinical interest is on equine internal medicine, donkey medicine, metabolic and endocrinological diseases and poor performance. Her research focuses mainly on endocrinological and metabolic disorders (EMS, PPID) and laminitis.
Mathijs J.P. Theelen
Utrecht University
Mathijs J.P. Theelen
DVM, PhD, Dipl.ECEIM, EBVS European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine
Assistant Professor Equine Internal Medicine
Curriculum Vitae
Mathijs is a Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine (Dipl.ECEIM) working at Utrecht University Equine Hospital. In his clinical work he focusses mainly on gastroenterology, hepatology and neonatology. He is head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for foals. After his graduation from Utrecht University in 2008, Mathijs started working as a researcher at the University of California in Davis, USA. After that he worked in a large equine referral hospital (Lingehoeve Diergeneeskunde) in the Netherlands before returning to Utrecht University to start his residency in equine internal medicine. He passed his board exams in 2014. In 2022 Mathijs defended his PhD thesis entitled ‘Fighting antimicrobial resistance in foal sepsis: does the gut conspire against us?’. His PhD was a collaboration between the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and focused on antimicrobial resistance and the role of the microbiome as a potential reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (resistome). Mathijs is actively involved in many research projects and has (co-)authored several scientific publications on topics related to equine neonatology, (molecular) microbiology, gastroenterology and hepatology. He aims to perform high quality research that is relevant for clinical practice. Mathijs regularly speaks at national and international conferences. He is currently also Member of the Equine Health Advisory Committee of the Morris Animal Foundation, Chair of the Advanced Training Advisory Committee of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM), Member of the sounding board for equine veterinarians of the Royal Dutch Veterinary Association (KNMvD) and Member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Louis C. Penning
Utrecht University
Louis C. Penning (The Hague, international city of peace and justice, 1963), PhD, is an associate professor in veterinary regenerative medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University (UU) the Netherlands. He is an expert member of the Dutch Society for Cell Biology, a member of the Dutch Society for Hepatology and a member and financial controller of the European Society for Comparative Hepatology. For his work as a PhD and post-doc in molecular oncology, molecular endocrinology and molecular cardiology, click here.
His broad experience and creative mind benefit the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine where he is responsible for molecular and cell biology research in internal medicine and (neuro)surgery with a focus on stem cell biology in horses and companion animals. He is an expert on organoid technology, which he exploits for nutritional and pharmacological studies and disease modelling. Involved in a multi-centred Centaur-project aiming at the development of equine liver organoids. Hobbies include outdoors (sailing) and classical martial arts. Critical, creative, and collaborative.
Wilbert Pellikaan
Animal Nutrition Group of Wageningen University & Research
Wilbert Pellikaan is assistant professor at the Animal Nutrition Group of Wageningen University & Research. In 2007 he obtained his current position within the Animal Nutrition Group with half of his time dedicated to lecturing subjects in general animal nutrition and animal nutrition physiology, and supervising undergraduate and graduate students. His main area of research is ruminant nutrition with a special interest in using novel tanniniferous fodder legumes in dairy cow nutrition to reduce enteric methane emissions. Since 2011 he conducts equine nutritional related studies within the Centre for Animal Nutrition, in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Utrecht University.
In 2007 he participated as a workpackage leader in an EU funded research training network ‘HealthyHay’, focussing on the effect of sainfoin tannins on methane production. This project was successfully continued in a subsequent EU funded initial training network ‘LegumePlus’ (www.legumeplus.eu) in which he also participated as a workpackage leader of the animal nutrition section. Currently, he is involved in an FACCE ERA-GAS network ‘Methlab’, where lactic acid bacteria are being used as silage inoculants or direct fed microbials to reduce enteric methane emissions from dairy cows, and is a partner within the EU-funded project ‘Equianfun’. The latter program studies the functioning of anaerobic fungi in the equine hindgut, which are of key-importance to dietary fibre degradation.
Current research interests and projects include the use of alkanes combined with stable isotope technique to assess botanical composition in diets of free ranging ruminants and equids, the use of tanniniferous feeds in dairy cow and equid nutrition, and further developments of in vitro techniques to study fermentation processes and microbial responses in the gastro intestinal tract of ruminants and equids.
Esther Siegers
Esther Siegers is a specialist in Equine Internal Medicine (dipl. ECEIM) and is working at the Equine University Hospital of Utrecht University. The topic of her PhD was exercise physiology with a focus on optimizing performance and welfare of sport horses. She studied the effect of a training protocol on young Friesian stallions and methods to reduce thermal strain during exercise in the heat. In the clinic, Esther has a special interest in neonatology. She is head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Esther is actively involved in several research projects on neonatology and training and workload and has (co-)authored multiple scientific publications in these fields.
Floor van Kootwijk
Equine Clinic Emmeloord
Floor van Kootwijk graduated in 2021 from Ghent University. After graduation, she started working at the Equine Clinic Emmeloord. First she completed a rotating equine internship and then started an equine medicine residency. Currently she is in the final year of het equine medicine residency.
During her rotating equine internship, the interest in endoparasites and specifically acute larval cyatostominosis started to grow. Resulting in the publication of the new Dutch Equine Parasite Guidelines in October 2024.
Beerend P. Hierck
University of Utrecht
Beerend Hierck (PhD) is a researcher, educational innovator, and head of the veterinary SkillsLab. He has been working at the Utrecht University Veterinary Medicine faculty since November 2021. Before that, he worked as a human anatomy teacher at Leiden University Medical Center. There, he received various awards as best and most innovative teacher of the Medical School as well as of Leiden University.
In 2016 he started focusing on innovative methods to teach and learn spatial anatomy. He developed DynamicAnatomy, an augmented reality application to learn about the 3D anatomy of the human lower leg and about the rotation of the ankle joints. When he transferred to Utrecht he started, together with Prof. Daniela Salvatori, a research group at the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Sciences, which focuses on using eXtended Reality (XR) technology to improve spatial knowledge acquisition (“3D-learning”) and clinical competence. He developed AvatarZOO, which is a price-winning XR application currently used for Microsoft HoloLens 2, that allows students to interact with a digital 3-dimensional anatomy model of various animal species. In addition, AvatarZOO now also supports clinical competence development, without the need for (experimental) animals. Research projects at the vet faculty focus on 1) Personalized implementation into the curriculum, 2) Determining cognitive load while working in a digital 3D learning environment, and 3) Clinical competence development.
As educational innovator and head of the veterinary SkillsLab he is in a good position to focus on simulation technology for veterinary education.
Kyle R. McLeod
Scientist, University of Kentucky
Dr. Kyle R. McLeod is a recognized authority on nutritional physiology, growth, and development. A proud native of rural West Texas, he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas Tech University before obtaining his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky. Dr. McLeod began his career as a Research Animal Scientist in the Large Animal Energy Metabolism Unit at the USDA Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, before returning to the University of Kentucky, where he is currently on the faculty of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
His research focuses on the complex relationships between luminal nutrient supply and the utilization of substrates by splanchnic and peripheral tissues in growing and mature animals. Dr. McLeod has directed studies on various species, including cattle, companion animals, and more recently, horses. His work on horses explores insulin dysregulation and its effects on tissue metabolism and the blood metabolome. This includes the use of nutraceuticals for the prevention or mitigation of insulin resistance in mature horses, as well as investigating plant-derived alkaloids' role in insulin resistance onset. More recently, his research has expanded to investigate the impact of diet and stress on gut health and the maintenance of intestinal barrier function in mature horses.
Dr. McLeod serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences and has over 140 peer-reviewed publications. He has received numerous accolades, including the American Society of Animal Science Animal Growth and Development Award, the T.P. Cooper Research Award for scientific accomplishment, and the George E. Mitchell Jr. Award for outstanding contribution to graduate education.
Lenny van Erp
HAS Green Academy
Elaine (Lenny) van Erp-van der Kooij has an MSc in Animal Science from Wageningen University and a PhD in Veterinary Science from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her PhD research was on coping behaviour in pigs. She is a professor in Precision Livestock Farming at HAS green academy in the Netherlands and Visiting Professor of Practice at Harper Adams University in the UK. Her main focus is improving the health and welfare of animals using sensor technology and data science. Projects and studies include AI and sensor applications in farm animals, horses and companion animals.
Rhana Aarts
Utrecht University
Rhana Aarts (1993) obtained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry with a specialization on Equine, Leisure and Sports from VHL University of Applied Sciences (NL) in 2016. As part of this, she completed a minor at Writtle University College (UK) focusing on Equine Science and Equine Sports therapy. In 2019 she graduated from Wageningen University (NL) with a Master’s degree in Animal Sciences specializing in Animal Nutrition and Adaptation Physiology. During her studies she conducted research with various animal species, including pigs, calves, cats, dogs and horses. She worked as a researcher for an animal nutrition company, before starting her PhD in 2021 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University. Due to her interest in biomechanics, (exercise)physiology and animal welfare her PhD will focus on combining biomechanical and physiological parameters in order to improve equine welfare and performance during training and/or competitions. On a personal level, Rhana has been horse-riding since the age of 7 in various disciplines and has worked in a variety of stables around the world.
Bart van der Hee
Bart owns a small firm specialised in the field of species conservation and animal ecology (Progress Ecologie en Vormgeving). Next to that, he is a guest researcher at the Host-Microbe Interactomics group (Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research). He graduated from applied university HAS with a project comparing several digestibility markers in horses, and Wageningen University studying immunomodulatory properties of probiotics. During his PhD and subsequent post-doctoral research, he mainly focused on the development and functional application of intestinal models and complex cell systems. One of the main areas of interest is the effects of microbe-produced metabolites on the intestinal- and airway epithelia and uncovering their molecular mechanisms of interaction in health and disease. More information on his work can be found at www.progressecologie.nl or https://www.wur.nl/nl/onderzoek-resultaten/leerstoelgroepen/dierwetenschappen/host-microbe-interactomics-1.htm