Prof Kristien Verheyen

DVM MSc PhD FHEA MRCVS
Professor of Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology/Head of the Graduate School

Department: Pathobiology and Population Sciences

Campus: Hawkshead

Research Groups: Musculoskeletal Biology, CPCS (Research Programme)

Research Centres: Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health

Kristien is Professor of Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology and Head of the Graduate School. Her research focuses on equine epidemiology, with projects on musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses, epidemiology of common clinical disorders in the UK horse population and health and welfare of working horses overseas.

Kristien graduated as a vet from the University of Ghent, Belgium, in 1995. After spells in mixed practice and the pharmaceutical industry, she joined the Epidemiology Unit at Animal Health Trust (AHT) near Newmarket, working on equine infectious diseases and being responsible for the veterinary care of the AHT's pony herd.

In 1998, still at the AHT, she started working full-time on a Horserace Betting Levy Board-funded research project studying the epidemiology of fractures in racehorses in training. Whilst working on this project, Kristien also studied for an MSc degree in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which she obtained in 2002.

In 2001, she took up a Residency in Equine Epidemiology funded by the Horse Trust that allowed her to complete a PhD in racehorse injury epidemiology, which she obtained in 2005. Kristien joined the Royal Veterinary College in January 2005 as a Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology, a post in which she has continued and expanded her research into the epidemiology of equine diseases. In addition, she became Head of the Graduate School in April 2016.

Veterinary clinical epidemiology, including:

  • racehorse injury epidemiology
  • equine laminitis and associated disorders
  • health and welfare of working horses overseas

Rosanowski, S M; Verheyen, K L P.
Factors associated with rehoming and time until rehoming for horses listed with an equine charity.
VETERINARY RECORD, 2019

Pollard, D; Wylie, C E; Verheyen, K L P; Newton, J R.
Identification of modifiable factors associated with owner-reported equine laminitis in Britain using a web-based cohort study approach.
BMC Veterinary Research, 15;59: 2019

de Mestre AM, Rose BV, Chang YM, Wathes DC, Verheyen KLP (2018) Multivariable analysis to determine risk factors associated with early pregnancy loss in thoroughbred broodmares. Theriogenology 124:18-23. 

Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP (2018) Epidemiology of race-day distal limb fracture in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000-2013). Equine Vet J. 2018 May 28. doi: 10.1111/evj.12968. [Epub ahead of print]

Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP (2018) Risk factors for race-day fatality in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013). PLoS One 13(3):e0194299.

Rose BV, Firth M, Morris B, Roach JM, Wathes DC, Verheyen KLP, de Mestre AM (2018) Descriptive study of current therapeutic practices, clinical reproductive findings and incidence of pregnancy loss in intensively managed thoroughbred mares. Anim Reprod Sci. 188:74-84.

Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP (2017) Risk factors for race-day fatality, distal limb fracture and epistaxis in Thoroughbreds racing on all-weather surfaces in Great Britain (2000 to 2013). Prev Vet Med. 148:58-65.

Pollard D, Wylie CE, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2017) Assessment of horse owners’ ability to recognise equine laminitis: a cross-sectional study of 93 veterinary diagnosed cases in Great Britain. Equine Vet J. 49(6):759-766.

Allen SE, Rosanowski SM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KL (2017) Description of veterinary events and risk factors for fatality in National Hunt flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 – 2013). Equine Vet J. 49(6):700-705.

Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KL (2017) Descriptive epidemiology of veterinary events in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013). Equine Vet J. 49(3): 275-81.

Wylie CE, Shaw DJ, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2016) Decision-tree analysis of clinical data to aid diagnostic reasoning for equine laminitis: a cross-sectional study. Vet Rec. 178(17): 420.

Rose BV, Cabrera-Sharp V, Firth MJ, Barrelet FE, Bate S, Cameron IJ, Crabtree JR, Crowhurst J, McGladdery AJ, Neal H, Pynn J, Pynn OD, Smith C, Wise Z, Verheyen KL, Wathes DC, de Mestre AM (2016) A method for isolating and culturing placental cells from failed early equine pregnancies. Placenta 38:107-11.

Jackson BF, Reed SR, Price JS, Verheyen KLP (2015) Relationship between serum biomarkers of cartilage and bone metabolism and joint injury in young Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Am J Vet Res. 76(8): 679-87.

Robin CA, Ireland JL, Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2015) Prevalence of and risk factors for equine obesity in Great Britain based on owner-reported body condition scores. Equine Vet J. 47(2): 196-201.

Upjohn MM, Pfeiffer DU, Verheyen KL (2014) Helping working Equidae and their owners in developing countries: monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based interventions. Vet J. 199(2): 210-6.

Tully LJ, Murphy AM, Smith RK, Hulin-Curtis SL, Verheyen KL, Price JS (2014) Polymorphisms in TNC and COL5A1 genes are associated with risk of superficial digital flexor tendinopathy in National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J. 46(3): 289-93.

Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2013) Risk factors for equine laminitis: A case-control study conducted in veterinary-registered horses and ponies in Great Britain between 2009 and 2011. Vet J. 198(1): 57-69.

Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2013) A cohort study of equine laminitis in Great Britain 2009-2011: estimation of disease frequency and description of clinical signs in 577 cases. Equine Vet J. 45(6): 681-7.

Wylie CE, Ireland JL, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2013) Demographics and management practices of horses and ponies in Great Britain: a cross-sectional study. Res Vet Sci. 95(2): 410-7.

Ireland JL, Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2013) Preventive health care and owner-reported disease prevalence of horses and ponies in Great Britain. Res Vet Sci. 95(2): 418-24.

Reed SR, Jackson BF, Wood JL, Price JS, Verheyen KL (2013) Exercise affects joint injury risk in young Thoroughbreds in training. Vet J. 196(3): 339-44.

Upjohn MM, Attwood GA, Lerotholi T, Pfeiffer DU, Verheyen KL (2013) Classical epidemiological approach versus participatory methods: a comparison of two research methods applied to identification of key health issues for working horses in Lesotho. Prev Vet Med. 108(4): 313-20.

Reed SR, Jackson BF, McIlwraith CW, Wright IM, Pilsworth R, Knapp S, Wood JL, Price JS, Verheyen KL (2012) Descriptive epidemiology of joint injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Equine Vet J, 44(1): 13-9.

Upjohn MM, Shipton K, Pfeiffer DU, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen KL (2012) Cross sectional survey of owner knowledge and husbandry practices, tack and health issues affecting working horses in Lesotho. Equine Vet J, 44(3): 310-8.

Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2012) Risk factors for equine laminitis: A systematic review with quality appraisal of published evidence. Vet J, 193(1): 58-66.

Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR (2011) Frequency of equine laminitis: A systematic review with quality appraisal of published evidence. Vet J, 189(3): 248–56.

Ely ER, Price JS, Smith RK, Wood JL, Verheyen KL (2010) The effect of exercise regimens on racing performance in National Hunt racehorses. Equine Vet J 42 Suppl 38: 624-9.

Upjohn MM, Shipton K, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen KL (2010) Coprological prevalence and intensity of helminth infection in working horses in Lesotho. Trop Anim Health Prod, 42(8): 1655-61.

Isgren CM, Upjohn MM, Fernandez-Fuente M, Massey C, Pollott G, Verheyen KL,  Piercy RJ (2010) Epidemiology of exertional rhabdomyolysis susceptibility in standardbred horses reveals associated risk factors and underlying enhanced performance PLoS One 5 (7): e11594. DOI: 10.1371

Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL (2009) Exercise during training is associated with racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Vet J, 181(1): 43-7.

Avella CS, Ely ER, Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL, Smith RK (2009) Ultrasonographic assessment of the superficial digital flexor tendon of National Hunt racehorses in training over two racing seasons. Equine Vet J, 41(5): 449-54.

Ely ER, Avella CS, Price JS, Smith RK, Wood JL, Verheyen KL (2009) Descriptive epidemiology of fracture, tendon and suspensory ligament injuries in National Hunt racehorses in training. Equine Vet J, 41(4): 372-8.

Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL (2007) Fracture rate in Thoroughbred racehorses is affected by dam age and parity. Vet J, 174(2): 295-301.

Verheyen KL, Price JS, Lanyon LE, Wood JL (2006) Exercise distance and speed affect the risk of fracture in racehorses. Bone, 39(6): 1322-30.

Verheyen KL, Newton JR, Price JS, Wood JL (2006) A case-control study investigating factors associated with pelvic and tibial stress fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Prev Vet Med, 74(1): 21-35.

Verheyen KL, Henley WE, Price JS, Wood JL (2005) Training-related factors associated with dorsometacarpal disease in young Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Equine Vet J, 37(5): 442-8.

Jackson BF, Lonnell C, Verheyen KL, Dyson P, Pfeiffer DU, Price JS (2005) Biochemical markers of bone metabolism and risk of dorsal metacarpal disease in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. Equine Vet J, 37(1): 87-91.

Ely ER, Verheyen KL, Wood JL (2004) Fractures and tendon injuries in National Hunt horses in training in the UK: a pilot study. Equine Vet J, 36(4): 365-67.

Verheyen KL, Wood JL (2004) Descriptive epidemiology of fractures occurring in British Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Equine Vet J, 36(2): 167-73.

Teaching evidence-based medicine, research skills, epidemiology and biostatistics, primarily at postgraduate level.

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