Kristine Urschel, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky with expertise in equine nutrition and metabolism. ​She holds a postdoctoral fellowship in Equine Nutrition from Virginia Tech and a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta in Canada. ​She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (Animal Science) from the University of Alberta.

Urschel has held various roles at the University of Kentucky, including associate professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences and assistant dean of instruction in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. In addition, she has served as the director of undergraduate studies in Equine Science and Management. ​

Urschel has been actively involved in professional organizations and has held several leadership positions in the American Society of Nutrition’s Experimental Animal Nutrition Research Interest Section. ​She also has a strong publication record.

In recognition of her achievements, Urschel has received several awards, including the Equine Science Award from the American Society of Animal Science and the Equine Science Society, as well as the Early Career Achievement Award from the American Society of Animal Science.

Outside of her academic and research work, Urschel advises undergraduate students in the BS Equine Science and Management and BS Animal Science degrees. She has been nominated for the University of Kentucky Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Award multiple times. ​

Urschel’s Recent Research

Loos CMM, McLeod KR, Vanzant ES, Stratton SA, Bohannan AD, Coleman RJ, van Doorn DA, Urschel KL. Differential effect of two dietary protein sources on time course response of muscle anabolic signaling pathways in normal and insulin dysregulated horses. Front Vet Sci. 2022;9:896220. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9376591

Loos CMM, McLeod KR, Stratton SC, van Doorn DA, Kalmar ID, Vanzant ES, Urschel KL. Pathways regulating equine skeletal muscle protein synthesis respond in a dose-dependent manner to graded levels of protein intake. J Anim Sci. 2020 Sep 1;98(9) PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7497812

Loos CMM, Dorsch SC, Elzinga SE, Brewster-Barnes T, Vanzant ES, Adams AA, Urschel KL. A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations and amino acid metabolism in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. Vet J. 2019 Sep;251:105341. PubMed PMID: 31492392

Latham CM, Wagner AL, Urschel KL. Effects of dietary amino acid supplementation on measures of whole-body and muscle protein metabolism in aged horses. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2019 Jan;103(1):283-294. PubMed PMID: 30284316

Mok CH, Levesque CL, Urschel KL. Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2018 Oct;102(5):1366-1381. PubMed PMID: 29901867

Herbst AC, Johnson MG, Gammons H, Reedy SE, Urschel KL, Harris PA, Adams AA. Development and Evaluation of a Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS) for Horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2022 Mar;110:103771. PubMed PMID: 34973594

Urschel KL, McKenzie EC. Nutritional Influences on Skeletal Muscle and Muscular Disease. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2021 Apr;37(1):139-175. PubMed PMID: 33820605 Mok CH, Urschel KL. Amino acid requirements in horses. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2020 May;33(5):679-695. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7206390

Mastellar SL, Coleman RJ, Urschel KL. Controlled trial of whole body protein synthesis and plasma amino acid concentrations in yearling horses fed graded amounts of lysine. Vet J. 2016 Oct;216:93-100. PubMed PMID: 27687933

Mastro LM, Adams AA, Urschel KL. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction does not necessarily impair insulin sensitivity in old horses. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2015 Jan;50:14-25. PubMed PMID: 25240230

Further Reading

Muscle Atrophy Research in Horses and Ponies. Dr. Kristine Urschel. MySeniorHorse.com