AAEP Requests Proposals for Bleeder Medication Research

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is seeking proposals to research the efficacy of adjunct bleeder medications, such as aminocaproic acid and/or conjugated estrogens, as a race day medication for prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).

The use of adjunct bleeder medications was cited as a priority need for investigation during the AAEP Racing Forum.

In its determination of appropriate race-day medication, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) cited aminocaproic acid, conjugated estrogens, and the commonly used Salix, if efficacy can be proven.

The Consortium received no fundable proposals in this area in its last call for research proposals so the question of efficacy remains unanswered.

Since EIPH is a significant factor in the health of aracehorse, the AAEP is attempting to facilitate the investigation. Research proposals will be evaluated for their scientific validity and their potential to satisfactorily answer the question of efficacy.

Further determination that these medications do not directly affect performance without an effect on pulmonary hemorrhage would be a useful adjunct to the primary proposal.

There is no time or budget limitation to these proposals. However, particular care will be paid to value for research dollar when the proposals are evaluated. The AAEP Research Committee will evaluate the research proposals. The Research Committee and the Executive Committee of the AAEP, if required, may recruit additional evaluators.

The deadline for proposal submission is Oct. 1.