Immunology and Endocrinology

Dr. Amanda Adams is an Associate Professor at the Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.  She is also Adjunct faculty at Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine, and has been recently honored as a Mars Equestrian^TM Fellow, specializing in the care of senior horses.  As a lifelong horse woman, she was diverted from vet school by interest in equine research after internships with Boehringer Ingelheim during her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology obtained at Stephens College. 

She then went on to complete her PhD in Veterinary Science with an emphasis in Equine Immunology from the University of Kentucky and then completed a Paul Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in areas of Immunology and Endocrinology at the Gluck Center. She then succeeded through the ranks at UK as Research Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and now Associate Professor. Currently, her research program encompasses the study of equine immunology and endocrinology in the areas of aging, obesity/endocrine diseases/laminitis, and stress.

Her research program is world renown in that she has established and supports a unique herd of aged, PPID, obese/metabolic syndrome, insulin dysregulated horses that are maintained at the Gluck Center, for both basic and applied research to further our knowledge in these areas in order to improve the health and well-being of the aging horse population.

Her research program has been supported by Foundations (AQHA, MAF, Waltham-Buckeye Equine Grant), USDA-ARS, as well as the Pharmaceutical industry (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Zoetis, Neogen) and Nutritional industry (Purina, Alltech, Mars). 

She has given invited talks both Nationally and Internationally.  She has published 40+ peer-reviewed publications, is the author of two book chapters and has trained a number of undergraduate students, graduate students, vet students, post-docs and visiting scientists.

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Publications:

1. The effects of cannabidiol on immune function and health parameters in senior horses. Turner S, Knych HK, Adams AA.Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2023 Jan 19;257:110549. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2023.110549. Online ahead of print.PMID: 36682327
2. Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse. Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Caldwell Barker A, Adams A.Equine Vet J. 2022 Dec 20. doi: 10.1111/evj.13910. Online ahead of print.PMID: 36537847
3. Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in a randomized crossover trial in senior horses. Turner SE, Knych HK, Adams AA.Am J Vet Res. 2022 Jul 18;83(9):ajvr.22.02.0028. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.22.02.0028.PMID: 35895770 Free article.
4. Macon EL, Harris P, Barker VD, Adams AA. Seasonal Insulin Responses to the Oral Sugar Test in Healthy and Insulin Dysregulated Horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2022 Apr 8;113:103945. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103945. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35405290.
5. ​Effect of aging on monocyte phagocytic and inflammatory functions, and on the ex vivo inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide, in horses. Herbst AC, Reedy SE, Page AE, Horohov DW, Adams AA.Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2022 Aug;250:110459. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2022.110459. Epub 2022 Jul 12.
6. 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. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103771. Epub 2021 Sep 20. PMID: 34973594.
7. ​Effect of Dose and Fasting on Oral Sugar Test Responses in Insulin Dysregulated Horses. Lyn Macon E, Harris P, Partridge E, Day Barker V, Adams A.J Equine Vet Sci. 2021 Dec;107:103770. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103770. Epub 2021 Sep 16.PMID: 34802623
8. Miller AB, Murphy BA, Adams AA. Impact of blue light therapy on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and hypertrichosis in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2022 Jan;78:106651. doi: 1016/j.domaniend.2021.106651. Epub 2021 Jul 27. PMID: 34656964.
9. Miller AB, Harris PA, Barker VD, Adams AA. Short-term transport stress and supplementation alter immune function in aged horses. PLoS One. 2021 Aug 19;16(8):e0254139. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254139. PMID: 34411137; PMCID: PMC8376036.
10. Turner S, Barker VD, Adams AA. Effects of Cannabidiol on the In Vitro Lymphocyte Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production of Senior Horses. J Equine Vet Sci. 2021 Aug;103:103668. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103668. Epub 2021 May 24. PMID: 34281647.
11. Miller AB, Loynachan AT, Barker VD, Adams AA. Investigation of innate immune function in adult and geriatric horses. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2021 May;235:110207. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2021.110207. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PMID: 33735821.
12. Postprandial insulin responses to various feedstuffs differ in insulin dysregulated horses compared with non-insulin dysregulated controls. Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Barker VD, Adams A.Equine Vet J. 2022 May;54(3):574-583. doi: 10.1111/evj.13474. Epub 2021 Jul 8.
13. Miller AB, Loynachan AT, Bush HM, Hart KA, Barker VD, Campana-Emard AG, Grubbs ST, Adams AA. Effects of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and Prascend (pergolide tablets) treatment on endocrine and immune function in horses. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2021 Jan;74:106531. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106531. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32942194.