On Nov. 2, Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, manager of Equine Veterinary Services for Merial, presented the 2011 Merial Applied Equine Research Award to Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery and gastroenterology at North Carolina State University, during the opening ceremony of the 2011 Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA). The prestigious award recognizes outstanding research conducted in a specific field of applied equine science over the past five years.

The Merial Applied Equine Research Award specifically honors advances in pain management of horses. Blikslager was selected by an international panel chaired by David Hodgson, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, FACSM, of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Hodgson said, "Dr. Blikslager has a distinguished career as a world class researcher. He has conducted seminal studies on colic with particular focus on pain control. As such he is a most worthy recipient of this prestigious award."

Blikslager said, "I am very grateful to WEVA and Merial for this award–it means so much to be recognized by fellow veterinarians in this way