Solving laminitis in horses just got a huge boost. Mississippi State University’s (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) announced a strategic collaboration between the university and horsewoman Nancy Link. The collaboration will facilitate the construction of a state-of-the-art research facility. Also included will be recruitment of top faculty to advance pioneering research in the prevention and treatment of laminitis.

An exceptionally generous gift from Nancy Link will fund the construction and operation of the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center. The Link Center will be located at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“My horses are a passion in my life,” said Link. “It is heartbreaking to experience their suffering from laminitis. The mission of my partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University is to develop treatment and to work to find a cure for this dreadful disease.

Link has had a longstanding positive relationship with Mississippi State University. This was developed during the years she was married to Mississippi State Alumnus Richard Adkerson.

“This significant and magnificent gift from Nancy Link will rapidly advance the reputation of MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine as a national and international leader in this important area of research,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “This gift will in the full measure of time save horses and has the potential to change the long-term fate of both pleasure and work horses afflicted with this disease. We are grateful for Nancy’s tremendous gift that provides the catalyst for this enhanced research.”

The Link Center will employ two tenured faculty chairs, one early-career faculty member, staff, and graduate students. The Center will conduct vital research on laminitis. This includes the areas of prevention, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies, advancing an essential area of veterinary medicine. No racehorses will be used as subject animals for the research or treatment trials conducted at the Link Center.

“This partnership exemplifies the transformative impact in advancing veterinary medicine,” said John Rush, Vice President for Development and Alumni. “Nancy’s generous gift connects her passion for addressing the treatment for this debilitating disease.”

Link’s gift will fund construction, equipment for the center, faculty salaries, maintenance, and travel for professional research presentations. This support will solidify the center’s status as a global leader in laminitis research.

College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Nicholas Frank is thedean and professor of the College of Veterinary Medicine. He praised the collaboration as a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of all involved.

“MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine enthusiastically supports these efforts by offering our expertise and a commitment to advancing the prevention and treatment of laminitis,” said Frank. “By leveraging our research capabilities and academic excellence, MSU seeks to collaborate closely with Nancy to establish a world-class center that conducts cutting-edge laminitis research and translates scientific discoveries into practical solutions for the equine community.”

For more information, please contact Jimmy Kight, the senior director of development for the College of Veterinary Medicine at the Mississippi State University Foundation, at 662-325-5893.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

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