** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE DANGER OF GENE DOPING PRESENTS A RISING THREAT TO THE PERFORMANCE HORSE INDUSTRY FOR WHICH REGULATORY BODIES HAVE APPOINTED SUBCOMMITTEES TO DETERMINE HOW IT WILL BE CONTROLLED.WHILE RACING AND PERFORMANCEAUTHORITIES LIST PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES, AS TESTING SENSITIVITY IMPROVES, DOPING STRATEGIES CHANGE.NOVEL TECHNIQUESSUCH AS GENE MANIPULATIONARE NOT DETECTABLE USING CURRENT ANTI-DOPING METHODS. AS A RESULT, ANTI-DOPING PROGRAMS MUST BECOME MORE ROBUST AND INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL TESTING MODALITIES TO PROTECT THE WELFARE AND WELLBEING OF PERFORMANCE HORSE ATHLETES. THEREFORE, THE GOAL OF THE WORK IS TO DEVELOP A LOW-COST, STALL-SIDE TEST FOR RAPID DETECTION OF GENE DOPING VECTORS AND TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE TIME COURSE OF DETECTING A COMMONLY USED DOPING VECTOR. THE RESEARCH WILL BE THE FIRST TO DETERMINE A TIME COURSE OF VECTOR DETECTION IN HORSES, AND WILL RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AROBUST, SENSITIVE, AND USER-FRIENDLY TEST. THE ABILITY TO DETECT GENE DOPING WITH HIGH SENSITIVITY AND UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINE FOR PROPER DETECTION WILL AID IN DISCOURAGING GENE DOPING, CONSERVE THE WELFARE AND INTEGRITY OF PERFORMANCE HORSES, AND PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR WHICH NEW POLICIES AND REGULATIONS ARE BASED.