I share your frustrations over the lack of interest in research on
endurance horses. But everyone is overlooking the major contributor to
research and that is all of us Ph.D's! No, we don't practice clinical
medicine but our entire lives are devoted to the real fundamental
understanding of how the body works. Even if it seems esoteric at the
time, we pursue questions with a fervor unmatched by most clinicians, be
they veterinarian or human doctor. Our entire education is focused on
the proper way to conduct research, and all the laboratory skills that
are necessary to do so. We are taught to ask "Why?" and apply our
knowledge and findings to real life, not simply memorize
what to do in any given situation, and we are definitely not in it for
the money or the glory!
For years I have taught, conducted
research and worked along side physicians who by their own admittance are
highly skilled technicians. The criteria for selecting students into
medical school, and I assume vet school, are very different than those
for selection for PhD. candidates. The very nature of our professions
dictates that we are different types of people. Of course, there are the
exceptional clinicians who also pursue the "Why?", but they comprise at
most only 10% of all practitioners. It is not intended as an insult,
only their own perspective. When doctors want to know why or how
something works they ask the Ph.D.
I recently presented a seminar to the basic sciences department here
detailing the metabolic problems that endurance horses encounter. It was
astounding to see the interest from every discipline, biochemistry,
physiology, pathology, and of course pharmacology! The questions and
insight that this group of Ph.D.'s had to offer was mind boggling.
Although it has been over a month since I presented the seminar, my
colleagues continue to talk about the problems, bring me articles that
may be relevant, and offer suggestions as to how to best approach the
problems. Three have expressed interest in collaborative projects. Our
biggest stumbling block is FUNDING. We have limited in house resources.
I am the only one who owns and rides horses (I'm also known as a lunatic
by our clinician colleagues!) and this is supposed to be a human medical
school. What to do?
I would give my eye teeth and both arms to get a faculty appointment at a
veterinary school where I could continue to teach and conduct full scale
research on endurance horses. In the meantime, the 4 of us are writing a
proposal to pool our inhouse funds, apply the results to human athletes
(marathon runners) and hopefully make progress starting this summer. If
it all works, we DEFINITELY need help from the veterinary community and
welcome STUDENTS! BTW - We offer a Masters degree in Biomedical
Sciences. Possibly a second degree for those interested in research?!
The point of all this, besides my own frustration, is that medical
schools also conduct research. Most medical research is animal
research. The biggest pool of researchers is Ph.D's and they are also
mostly employed by medical schools! The old saying goes, "You can lead a
horse to water...." Well, you can lead a vet to a horse, but.....!
On the other hand, there are many researchers out there dying of thirst
and looking for those horses! If grants, no matter how small, were
available to specifically further research on endurance horses, and these
grants were made public to all basic science professionals, the field
would be overwhelmed by applications and proposals.
Soapbox Off!
Lynn
L. M. Crespo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Pharmacology
Nova-Southeastern University
lynn@alpha.acast.nova.edu