James MacLeod

James MacLeod is a Professor and John S. and Elizabeth Knight Chair in Equine Musculoskeletal Sciences at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center, part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. His research focuses on equine genetics, musculoskeletal biology, and regenerative medicine, particularly cartilage development and osteoarthritis. He holds a PhD in Pathology (1990) and a VMD in Veterinary Medicine (1984) from the University of Pennsylvania, along with a BS in Animal Science (1980) from the University of Delaware.

Key research areas include the molecular mechanisms of articular cartilage growth, osteoarthritis progression, and genome annotation in horses. His lab has contributed to advancements in RNA sequencing techniques and functional genomics, including the equine reference genome. MacLeod has secured grants from organizations like the Morris Animal Foundation and the KY Horse Racing Commission, focusing on equine health and musculoskeletal disorders.

He received the Prestigious Research Paper Award in 2009 and has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles. MacLeod collaborates on projects such as Polyacrylamide for Joint Therapy and equine genome functional annotation. His work bridges basic research and clinical applications, aiming to improve equine health and welfare.