LEXINGTON, Ky., — Scott Stanley, a professor at the University of California, Davis, has accepted the professor of analytical chemistry position at the University of Kentucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center. Stanley will join the UK Department of Veterinary Science as a faculty member in a few months.

“The continued use of performance enhancing substances remains an area of concern to both human and equine athletic endeavors,” said David Horohov, department chair and center director. “The Gluck Center has ongoing interest and expertise in the field of equine pharmacology and toxicology, and Dr. Stanley will further that reputation and enhance our ability to do state-of-the-art research in this important area.”

Stanley received his doctoral degree in toxicology in 1992 and his bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1988 from UK. He has been a faculty member at UC Davis since 1997. He was previously the director of toxicology at Truesdail Laboratories in Tustin, California.

At UC Davis, Stanley is the director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. He modernized drug testing in California horse racing by introducing new, state-of-the-art instrumental drug testing equipment and procedures. He also worked closely with manufacturers in adapting these newer, more sensitive instruments to equine drug testing.

“My current research interests are related to drug testing methods for the detection of biopharmaceuticals, natural products and designer drugs,” Stanley said.

His research at the Gluck Center will focus on developing new anti-doping approaches and the establishment of an Equine Biological Passport project.

“The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and the signature industry that we serve, are extremely lucky to have Dr. Stanley back in our community,” said Nancy Cox, dean of the college. “Dr. Stanley has earned an international reputation for sound application of the best technologies to pharmacology in the horse. His presence here will give a quantum leap to our already well-established programs dedicated to safety in racing and all other equine sports.”

Stanley has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters, including research on anabolic steroids, beta-2 agonists and many studies on therapeutic drug thresholds for racing. He is a member of the Association of Official Racing Chemists and the American Society of Mass Spectrometry.

“The addition of Dr. Stanley to join the world-class faculty assembled at the Gluck Center represents the essence of commitment made by the University of Kentucky to the equine industry locally and beyond the borders of the commonwealth,” said Stuart Brown, chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation and partner and veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “Dr. Stanley’s area of expertise in analytical toxicology and drug testing will augment the contributions made by the Gluck Center in novel areas of research and discovery to the benefit of the health and welfare of the horse for decades to come.”

The mission of the Gluck Center, a UK Ag Equine program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is scientific discovery, education and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the health and well-being of horses. The Gluck Center faculty conducts equine research in seven targeted areas: genetics and genomics, immunology, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal science, parasitology, pharmacology/toxicology and reproductive health. Their continuing efforts build upon a tradition of excellence in equine research dating back to 1915. For more information on the Gluck Center, visit http://gluck.ca.uky.edu.