Equine Diagnostic Lab Reopens With A Little Help From Their Friends
Editors note: Equine Biodiagnostics Inc. (EBI) was founded in 1995 and based on the research of David Granstrom at the UK Gluck Equine Research Center.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2009) − The local equine community made its voice heard when IDEXX Laboratories announced plans to close its Lexington-based office, Equine Biodiagnostics Inc. (EBI), and consolidate operations with their lab in California.
“Much of the equine community had come to depend on our specialty
disease testing services. IDEXX Lab’s plan to move our operation to California would mean longer waits for test results, which could be devastating, if not fatal, to a sick horse,” said Jennifer Morrow, UK microbiology graduate and 12-year EBI employee. “As the outcry from our customers grew, we began to see an opportunity.”
This past winter, Morrow and co-worker Amy Graves, UK animal science graduate and EBI employee, took the leap into entrepreneurship and reopened the lab as Equine Diagnostic Solutions LLC (EDS). “Never in our wildest dreams had we imagined becoming business owners,” said Graves. “We had no idea how to prepare a business plan or find funding.”
Eq
uine Biodiagnostics Inc, founded in 1995, was based on the research of David Granstrom at the Gluck Equine Research Center, who developed tests for neurologic diseases including EPM, Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. Granstrom worked closely with UK’s new for-profit corporation Kentucky Technology Incorporated (KTI) to set up a lab in the ASTeCC campus incubator and build the business.
In 1999 EBI moved to the Coldstream Research Campus and was acquired by IDEXX Laboratories in 2002. Under IDEXX, the lab expanded diagnostic testing to 10 equine diseases including strangles, flu and the West Nile virus.
In March 2009, Morrow and Graves followed the same path as Granstrom and requested assistance from UK’s Kentucky Technology Inc. and the new Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (the UK Office for Commercialization & Economic Development, Commerce Lexington and Lexington city government).
“We could not have done this without everyone’s expertise and moral support,” said Morrow, who began her career in the UK School of Medicine’s pathology department and is credited with starting their molecular diagnostic lab in 1986. “They made what was originally an overwhelming undertaking into a manageable process.”
Morrow and Graves also worked with Tina Carpenter at Coldstream to re-sign the lease for the original lab space. Determined to keep their new operation grounded in Lexington, EDS has worked with local companies for additional services, such as Web development, phone installation and banking.
EDS opened its doors at Coldstream in August and within the first month served more than 90 customers. “We spent a lot of time reconnecting with our clients by phone and direct mail,” Morrow said. “The extraordinary relationships we built with our customers definitely made the transition much easier.”
EDS performs specialty tests not often available in veterinary offices using technology originally developed in the labs of Granstrom and John Timoney at UK. Currently EDS offers several of their original tests, and is working to redesign and revalidate other tests with the help of one full-time employee and automated processes, to expedite production. Each test is made in the lab from start to finish, creating a unique and valuable process. Morrow and Graves also plan to develop and launch second generation tests through partnerships with the UK College of Agriculture Gluck Equine Research Center.