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Communications |
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Soma Laboratory Makes Racing History |
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The laboratory of Lawrence R. Soma at the
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, working with the
Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, has developed a new
test to detect blood doping in race horses. The new test detects the
presence of human erythropoietin (EPO) in race horses, not just antibodies
produced by the protein foreign to the horse. Eric Birks led the effort in
Soma’s lab. Soma is the equine research director at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and has been an APS member since 1975. The New Bolton Center received much attention after Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro arrived for treatment of his shattered leg, suffered in the Preakness. “We first were able to extract the protein-based drug (EPO) from plasma,” Soma explained of his laboratory’s work on the groundbreaking test. “Then, Dr. Fuyu Guan, who works closely with Dr. Cornelius Uboh at the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory, was able to develop a brand new method of breaking apart the protein of the human EPO molecules into smaller fractions (peptides). This allowed the positive identification of the EPO itself using very sensitive liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry technology,” he said. Dr. Uboh’s laboratory was able to confirm laboratory readings from an ELISA test conducted in a Toronto laboratory on three racehorses in Ontario, which resulted in a lengthy suspension for the trainer of the horses by the Ontario Racing Commission. Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission Chairman Roy Wilt applauded the cutting-edge work done by the laboratories, which helps ensure the integrity of horse racing. Blood doping not only constitutes cheating, but can threaten the lives of horses that are injected with the substance. Dr. Soma’s laboratory receives funding from the horse racing and harness racing commissions in Pennsylvania. |
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