Iina Brotherus

Iina Brotherus is a Clinical veterinarian in a specialization program at the Equine Hospital within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki. She serves as a Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine.

She earned her Licentiate in Veterinary Medicine (Eläinlääketieteen lisensiaatti) from the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on January 25, 2019. Her educational background provides the foundation for her specialized work in equine medicine.

Dr. Brotherus specializes in veterinary science with a focus on equine welfare and behavior. Her research program systematically investigates sleep patterns and disorders in horses, examining factors such as bedding comfort, environmental influences, and behavioral indicators of sleep problems. She has developed innovative methodologies for assessing equine cognition, including a reversal learning test for horses. Her work bridges clinical practice with scientific research to improve understanding of equine sleep physiology and welfare implications.

Analysis of her publications reveals a coherent research trajectory focused on equine sleep disorders, with studies progressing from preliminary findings to comprehensive investigations of risk factors associated with sleep disturbances in Nordic horses. Her research demonstrates methodological sophistication in assessing both environmental and physiological factors affecting equine sleep quality.

• Extensive media coverage including articles on REM sleep importance for horses
• Public engagement through webinars on equine welfare
• Ongoing research project since 2020

Dr. Brotherus actively contributes to the academic community through her role as Co-Principal Investigator on the "Sleepless in the stable" research project and her numerous conference presentations. Her work has practical implications for equine management practices and has been featured in multiple press outlets discussing the importance of proper sleep for horse health and welfare.