Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory
Capitalizes on Private, Public Funding

May 29, 2003

MOSCOW, Idaho – Since its founding in 1986, the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory has relied on a mix of public and private support. Since 1996, the lab has brought nearly $2.4 million in research funding to the University of Idaho. With more than $960,000 in private contributions, the laboratory program ranks as one of the top UI programs receiving private support.

Consulting and sales of other services provided by the lab generated nearly $20,000 in fiscal 2003, and a total of more than $79,000 during the eight-year span.

The laboratory receives substantial support, nearly $670,000 during the eight years, from a unique source - pari-mutuel betting receipts on horse racing in Idaho. That fund generated a peak of $161,405 in 1997. Since its creation by the Idaho Legislature through House Bill 717 to support equine-related education, the fund has generated more than $1 million. The state's lawmakers created the fund to support research important to Idaho's horse industry.

The laboratory also draws a minor share of Idaho general education funding, $1,179 in fiscal 2003, for its faculty members’ teaching activities.

Federal and state funding through the Hatch Act and other sources provided $641,975 for laboratory operations during the eight most recent years.

NERL head Gordon Woods, UI professor of animal and veterinary sciences, is also a principal in several private companies. He is president of CancEr2, a company formed to investigate differences between human and equine physiology that may enhance understanding of why the cancer mortality rate in the horse is many times less than in humans. The primary financial backers for CancEr2 are Mel Reeves and Ken Hatch.

The proprietary information developed and patented by CancEr2 was licensed to the University of Idaho and Woods’ project. Woods said that information was the breakthrough that allowed the cloning of the mule Idaho Gem to succeed.

Woods also serves as a principal of ClonE2, a business formed to offer cloning services commercially. Post Falls, Idaho, businessman Don Jacklin is a principal in that business. The company has licensed technology patented by the University of Idaho based on Woods’ research.

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CONTACTS: Bill Loftus or Kathy Barnard, University Communications, (208) 885-6291, bloftus@uidaho.edu or kbarnard@uidaho.edu