Texas A&M Veterinarians Recognized For Excellence At Annual AAEP Conference

Story by Courtney Price, VMBS Marketing & Communications

December 16, 2024

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) equine specialists Drs. Noah Cohen and Rebecca Legere were recognized for outstanding accomplishments at the 2024 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) conference in Orlando.

Cohen, a University Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor, and Dr. Glen Blodgett Chair of Equine Studies in the VMBS’ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (VLCS), received the 2024 AAEP Research Award for his work with equine diseases — including equine strangles and respiratory diseases caused by Rhodococcus equi — that has led to significant advances in medical understanding.

Cohen is one of only five recipients of the AAEP Research Award in the 70-year history of the organization.

Legere, an assistant professor in the VLCS, was invited to give one of four Foundation Research Highlights as a past recipient of the AAEP Foundation for the Horse Research Fellowship. Foundation Research Highlights precede the prestigious Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art lecture on cutting-edge equine medical research.

“I am extremely proud that Dr. Cohen was recognized by the AAEP for his significant contributions to the health of the horse and advancement of our profession,” said Dr. Jennifer Schleining, VLCS department head. “Dr. Legere is an equally talented researcher who is on the cusp of a rewarding career investigating novel approaches to treatment of equine diseases. Their research embodies the ideals of Texas A&M University.”

The AAEP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of horses.

Dr. Noah Cohen

Cohen, a renowned expert in equine internal medicine, has authored or co-authored 293 papers and 35 review articles in refereed journals on research that has spanned R. equi detection, risk factors, antibiotic resistance, hyperimmune plasma treatment, and use of an RNA (ribonucleic acid) vaccine. He has also completed research on Streptococcus strains in horses, as well as equine colic, equine musculoskeletal injuries and laminitis, and equine reproductive losses.

“Both diseases represent significant morbidity, with a negative economic impact on the horse industry,” his nominators said. “Dr. Cohen’s recent inventions include a serological test for strangles and an RNA vaccine for Rhodococcus foal pneumonia both in the past two years.”

Cohen received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. After two years in private equine practice, he completed a Master of Public Health degree and a Ph.D. in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, followed by a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M. He joined the Texas A&M faculty as an assistant professor of equine medicine in 1991. 

Cohen has served on the AAEP’s Infectious Disease and Research committees, and he delivered the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture on the topic of equine epidemiology at the 2011 AAEP Annual Convention. His numerous other accolades include the 2002 John Hickman Memorial Lecture at the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, 2008 Schering-Plough Applied Equine Research Award, 2015 Zoetis Award for Excellence in Research, 2019 AVMA Clinical Research Award, and a 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship.

Dr. Rebecca Legere

Legere is also an expert in equine internal medicine. Her doctoral research under the mentorship of Dr. Cohen in the Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory focused on using aerosol mRNA delivery to treat and prevent respiratory disease in horses, a project that she continues to build on as a new faculty member in VLCS.

According to Legere, aerosol delivery of mRNA is a crucial medical advancement for protecting young foals from diseases like foal pneumonia because it provides them with antibodies almost immediately, right at the site of infection.

Nebulization — the process that turns mRNA into an aerosol — also has many translational applications, especially with human infants, where quick, non-invasive techniques are extremely valuable.

Legere began her professional career in biomedical engineering but eventually returned to academia to focus on equine medicine, receiving a master’s degree in animal science from Sul Ross State University in 2011. She earned her veterinary degree from Kansas State University in 2015, followed by a residency at Auburn University and a second master’s degree in biomedical sciences in 2019. She conducted her doctoral degree under Cohen at Texas A&M University and graduated in 2024.

Legere’s other accomplishments include the 2024 Elaine and Bertram Klein Development Award from the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation, basic and clinical research prizes from the national Society of Phi Zeta, and Texas A&M’s Ethel Ashworth-Tsutsui Memorial Award for Research.

Representing Texas A&M At AAEP

In addition to the recognition of faculty accomplishments, seven faculty and graduate students presented at the conference, including Drs. Noah Cohen, Paul Morley, Shannon Reed, Erica Macon, Luisa Ramirez, and Sophia Marchio.

Dr. Leslie Easterwood, a VLCS clinical associate professor and chair of the AAEP Foundation for the Horse committee, presided over the scholarship awards ceremony where Texas A&M students brought home $185,000 of the $530,000 in scholarship awards, amounting to nearly 35% of the total award money and including two of the four $75,000 prestigious Coyote Rock Ranch scholarships.

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For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216

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