Viruses are of tremendous concern to horse owners. A generous donation to study newly emerging and re-emerging viral diseases was made by Dr. Bernard and Gloria Salick of Thousand Oaks, Calif., to the University of California, Davis. In turn, the Bernard and Gloria Salick Equine Viral Disease Laboratory (EVDL) was established in April of 1999.

The EVDL evolved from an existing program that James MacLachlan, BVSc, MS, PhD, developed in 1991 primarily to study Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA). The Salicks’ donation allows the laboratory to have more in-depth studies of viral disease.

“Our strength is in funding basic and applied research in equine virology using contemporary techniques of molecular biology,” MacLachlan says. He hopes the lab will become a world leader, serving as a hub for information while continuing cutting-edge research.

One of the current studies involves the development of novel forms of equine vaccines using viral genes for protein immunization. This is considered the “next generation of vaccines.” Researchers are encouraged by the preliminary data. “The focus is on EVA as our prototype, and this can be logically applied to any virus,” MacLachlan explains. “Our goal is to see if we can get beyond modified live viruses.  Any new generation vaccine has to be as good as the modified live with fewer disadvantages.”

The EVDL plans to disseminate information about research in several ways, including a web site at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/evdl. The lab is not a master of every viral disease, so it has strategic national and international alliances with other laboratories