‘I Am a UK Innovator:’ Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Allen Page

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 20, 2025) — Innovation can lead to breakthroughs, turning ideas into real-world solutions that make a lasting impact. 

Research Communications partnered with UK Innovate to spotlight faculty innovators with pioneering ideas at the University of Kentucky. UK Innovate  works collaboratively with innovators to strategically assess, protect and license early-stage technologies and co-create new technology startups. 

In this Q&A, Allen Page, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Science in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, shares how his research works to improve safety and welfare for equine athletes by identifying horses at risk for injuries. Page has received research funding from multiple North American racing stakeholders, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (formerly the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission), the Foundation for the Horse and the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Equine Welfare Research Foundation, all to support his research in this area.  

UKNow: What inspired you to pick this specific area of research? 

Page: The focus in my research program goes back to my background as an equine veterinarian and my desire to give back to horses because of all they have given to me. On top of that, being based in the Thoroughbred Capital of the World, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that the equine industry can have on our region, the nation and internationally. While the rate of serious injuries in Thoroughbred racing is extremely low, when these injuries do occur, they have a tremendous impact on the horse, the public and the jockeys, as well as the horse’s owner and trainer. We saw a need to step up and be one of the groups working in this area to further decrease the rate of significant injuries in racing, so we took this novel approach with a different type of biomarker than had been explored previously.   

UKNow: What is the most challenging aspect of your research?

Page: I think one of the biggest challenges has been convincing the racing industry and project sponsors that the methods we are using are novel and likely to obtain useful results. Since many of the projects are conducted remotely, we have to rely on our collaborators to collect the samples. Biomarkers have been explored as a means of identifying horses at risk for injury for decades with disappointing results, so this has taken a fair amount of reeducation on our part. We have started to get traction in this area and the results that we are sharing with the industry are beginning to change the narrative. 

UKNow: What have been the most fulfilling moments for you regarding your discoveries?

Page: For me, two different moments come to mind. First was when a group of highly respected racing industry stakeholders came together to fund our most recent project, demonstrating to me that they understand what we are trying to do and are confident that our work will ultimately move the needle forward to further decrease racehorse injuries. The second moment has come recently with an unsolicited invitation to present our findings on an international stage. As an early-career faculty member, that recognition and spot at the table provides a tremendous boost of confidence that we are not only having an impact, but all the time and effort has been worth it. 

UKNow: How has your research impacted the way you train students? 

Page: Since a lot of these projects with messenger RNA biomarkers take place elsewhere with our collaborators collecting the samples, my students have time to participate in the multiple other research projects we have going in the group. While the focus is obviously on their own research, I find that this opportunity to work on a variety of projects results in a well-rounded student when they leave the lab. 

UKNow: What drew you to and/or inspires you about the University of Kentucky? 

Page: If you want to work with horses, why would you want to be anywhere else? The resources we have here at UK and, specifically, in the Department of Veterinary Science, are second to none. Our large research herd and connections to farms throughout the area make this an incredible institution to be based out of when the focus of your research is solely on horses and how to improve their lives.