Biomarker Identification and Novel Therapies in Equine Medicine

Within veterinary medicine, equine research has experienced substantial growth in recent years. This trend is largely due to the evolving perception of horses from primarily being seen as livestock to being valued as companion animals. This shift underscores the need to expand both traditional diagnostic methods and innovative approaches to enhance disease detection, treatment options, and overall equine health management. Despite significant advancements, there remain critical gaps in our understanding of equine diseases, particularly in the integration of traditional and modern diagnostic techniques. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of combining classical diagnostic practices with advanced technologies to improve disease outcomes. However, there is still a need for comprehensive research that bridges these methodologies, particularly in the areas of biomarker identification and novel therapeutic strategies.

This research topic aims to collate cutting-edge research in equine medicine, encompassing both traditional techniques and state-of-the-art diagnostic methods along with the identification and application of biomarkers for various equine diseases. We aim to include a comprehensive range of studies—from those utilizing classical diagnostic practices to those leveraging advanced technologies. This includes both internal medicine and orthopedic conditions requiring either conservative or surgical interventions. Specific questions to be addressed include: How can traditional and modern diagnostic methods be effectively integrated? What are the most promising biomarkers for equine diseases? How can new therapeutic strategies, such as stem cell therapies, be optimized for clinical use?

To gather further insights in advancing equine medicine, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Traditional diagnostic techniques such as blood work, radiography, ultrasonography, and endoscopy
- Modern diagnostic methods including microbiome analysis via Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), metabolomics through mass spectrometry, single-cell proteomics, and advanced flow cytometry
- Biomarker research focusing on microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, and their varied cargo
- Novel therapeutic strategies, including stem cell therapies and the use of extracellular vesicles as drug carriers
- Comparative studies involving horses in both physiological and pathological states, with healthy control groups
- Clinical applications and potential usefulness of the methods employed
- Publication of negative results to guide future research directions in equine medicine

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: horses, biomarkers, microbiome, metabolome, proteome, Equine Medicine, Traditional Diagnostic Techniques, Modern Diagnostic Methods, Microbiome Analysis, Metabolomics, Proteomics, Flow Cytometry, Orthopedic Diseases, Internal Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy, Extracellular Vesicles, Disease Detection, Therapeutic Strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.