Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) announced today their support of postdoctoral training by funding a Fellowship Program that will begin in 2024.
The need for establishing such a program is two-fold:
To promote a sustained research program in with a core focus on anti-doping, to include topics related to drug testing, development of new analytical methods with application to racing chemistry, pharmacokinetics/ pharmacodynamics, forensic toxicology, or other related disciplines. The future of horseracing's anti-doping programs requires mentoring young scientists to become researchers, racing laboratory directors, and industry leaders. Innovation and application of newer, more sophisticated technological advancements will come from those young scientists.
To establish a mechanism to identify, recruit, and retain young scientists and encourage their research pursuits relevant to horse racing's need for a rigorous anti-doping program and the promotion of enhanced safety for racehorses.
"The recruitment and retention of motivated, highly trained personnel and support competitive research programs are critical to anti-doping, medication control, and racing safety programs, said Dr. Michael Hardy, Executive Director , "The racing industry has a responsibility to solicit qualified individuals, support their advanced training, provide incentives for relevant research programs, and foster productivity in research laboratories."
Relevant fields of study have historically included veterinary pharmacology, veterinary or human toxicology, and analytical chemistry. More recently other disciplines, including genetics, biophysics, and immunology have become relevant to anti-doping. Scientists trained in these disciplines are encouraged to apply for the Fellowships.
For additional information, visit the RMTC website at rmtcnet.com.
