Kari Ekenstedt

eken0003@umn.edu

Degrees

D.V.M, Univeristy of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine , May 2005

B.S. in Animal Science, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2001

Major Advisor

Jim Mickelson

Research

My research interests lie in animal genetics, particularly canine, and the relationship between genetics and disease. My primary focus is on idiopathic epilepsy in Beagles, Vizslas, English Springer Spaniels, and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. My research utilizes both microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms as genetic markers, through both a candidate gene approach and a whole genome association approach. Additionally, I am involved in the Leonberger polyneuropathy project that is ongoing in our laboratory. Previously, I was involved with the research on equine genetic diseases, also in our laboratory, and with the histopathological development of osteoarthritis in rats with chronic growth hormone/IGF-1 deficiency in the comparative pathology laboratory.

Publications

Patterson EE, Minor KM, Tchernatynskaia AV, Taylor SM, Shelton GD, Ekenstedt KJ, and Mickelson JR. A canine DNM1 mutation is highly associated with the syndrome of exercise-induced collapse. Nat Genet 2008; 40(10):1235-9.

Ekenstedt KJ, Sonntag WE, Loeser RF, Lindgren BR, and Carlson CS. Effects of chronic growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency on osteoarthritis severity in rat knee joints. Arthritis Rheum 2006; 54(12):3850-3858.

Dranchak PK, Ekenstedt KJ, Valberg SJ, Chowdhary BP, Raudsepp T, and Mickelson JR. Chromosomal assignments for the equine AMPK family genes. Anim Genet 2006; 37(3):293-4.

DranchakPK, Valberg SJ, Onan GW, GallantEM, MacLeay JM, McKenzie EC, De La Corte FD, Ekenstedt K and Mickelson JR. Inheritance of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in thoroughbreds. JAVMA 2005; 227(5):762-7.

Sonntag, WE, Carter CS, Ikeno Y, Ekenstedt K, Carlson CS, Loeser RF, Chakrabarty S, Lee S, Bennett C, Ingram R, Moore T, and Ramsey M. Adult-onset growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I deficiency reduces neoplastic disease, modifies age-related pathology, and increases life span. Endocrinology 2005; 146(7):2920-32. 

Presentations

Ekenstedt KJ, Patterson EE, and Mickelson JR. Investigating the Genetic Basis of Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs. Poster presented at 4th International Conference: Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics and Inherited Diseases, Saint Malo, France. (May 2008)

Ekenstedt KJ, Patterson EE, and Mickelson JR. Investigating the Genetic Basis of Idiopathic Epilepsy in Dogs. Poster presented at 111th Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Meeting and Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota. (February 2008)

 Ekenstedt KJ, McNiel EA, and Mickelson JR. Evaluating the role of BRCA2 in predisposition of the male Cocker Spaniel to mammary tumors. Poster presented at Genes, Dogs and Cancer: 4th International Canine Cancer Conference, Chicago, IL (September 2006)

Sonntag, WE, Carter CS, Ikeno Y, Ekenstedt K, Carlson C, Loeser R, Lee S, Bennett C, Ingram R, Moore T. Adult-Onset Growth Hormone and IGF-1 deficiency reduces neoplastic disease, delays age-related pathology and increases lifespan. Poster presented at The Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting, San Diego, California. (2005)

Dranchak PK, Ekenstedt KJ, Valberg SJ, and Mickelson JR. Radiation Hybrid Mapping and Association of AMP Kinase Subunit Markers with Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy in American Quarter Horses. Poster presented at Plant and Animal Genome Conference, San Diego, California (January 2005)

Ekenstedt, KJ, Sonntag WE, Loeser RF, Lindgren BR, and Carlson CS. Effects of Chronic Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Deficiency on Osteoarthritis in Rat Knee Joints. Podium presentation at the World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Chicago, Illinois (December 2004).  

Ekenstedt KJ, Carlson, CS. Effects of chronic growth hormone/IGF-1 deficiency on osteoarthritis in rat knee joints. Poster presentation at Merck Merial Veterinary Scholars Symposium, Manhattan, Kansas. (July 2003)

Honors and Awards

Monica Roberts Memorial Travel Grant, June 2008

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Meeting Research Poster Competition – 1st Place Poster Award, February 2008

NIH Comparative Medicine and Pathology Post-Doctoral Fellowship, May 2007

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Academy of Veterinary Medical Practice – Ben Pomeroy Scholarship, April 2006

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation Scholarship – Companion Animal, April 2005

Caleb Dorr Award for Scholastic Excellence, 2003, 2004, &2005

Joseph E. Salsbury Veterinary Medical Scholarship, 2004

Phi Zeta, Kappa Chapter Inductee, 2004

Points of Pride Research Days 1st Place Poster Award, Summer Scholars, 2004

Augustus Searles Scholarship for Women, 2003

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation Scholarship, Margaret Pomeroy, 2003

Merck-Merial Veterinary Summer Scholars Grant, 2003

Phi Kappa Phi Inductee, 2000