Project Members

Team Members and Roles

• Stephanie Valberg DVM PhD, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota
  Experienced in muscle diseases, Dr. Valberg will coordinate data collection, identify outbreaks/ potential SPM/AM cases, establish a diagnosis of SPM/AM, coordinate analysis of data and act as a liaison with Extension for the horse community and horticulture.

• Beatrice Sponseller DVM, Iowa State University
  Dr. Sponseller has worked with cases of seasonal pasture myopathy and will assist in identifying outbreaks/ potential SPM/AM cases, encouraging use of questionnaires, and establishing a diagnosis of SPM/AM.

• Jeff Bender DVM PhD, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota
  With his expertise in epidemiology Dr. Bender will assist in preparing the on line questionnaires, selecting appropriate control farms, data analysis and data interpretation.

• Adrian Hegeman PhD
  A pioneer in plant metabolomics, Dr. Hegeman identified the hypoglycin A toxin in box elder seeds and continues to work on identifying factors that affect toxin levels in seeds.

• Krishona Martinson PhD, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota
  A pasture and extension specialist, Dr. Martinson will identify plant material in affected and control pastures, raise awareness of disease amongst stakeholders, horse owners and veterinarians, organize biannual updates/meetings amongst the research team and stakeholders and provide Extension information to horse community based on study results.

• Robert Blanchette PhD, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota
  An international expert on plant diseases, Dr. Blanchette will assist with site visits, identify trees with tar spot fungus and characterize the species of tar spot fungus.

• Jeff Gillman PhD, Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota
  A leader in Extension programs for horticulturists, Dr. Gillman will raise awareness of Tar spot fungus amongst land owners and provide Extension information to land owners based on study results.
   
• Larry Sweetman PhD is a leading biochemist and Director of the Baylor Metabolic Institutes Mass Spectrometry Laboratory.  His laboratory identified the toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A in serum from horses with SPM.