Rebecca Renee Bellone

Rebecca Renee Bellone

Professor

Population Health & Reproduction


Education
1996, BS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2001, PhD, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Active Research Grants
Principal Investigator, Investigating the Genetics of Equine Recurrent Uveitis in Warmblood horses, (Principal Investigator), Gift
Co-Principal Investigator, Akita Sebaceous Adenitis Project , Grahn (Principal Investigator), Gift
Principal Investigator, Genomic Investigation of Equine Recurrent Uveitis in Appaloosa Horses, (Principal Investigator), Morris Animal Foundation
Principal Investigator, Identifying genetic risk factors for equine recurrent uveitis in Knabstrupper horses, (Principal Investigator), Center for Equine Health, UC Davis
Co-Principal Investigator, Annotation of functional regulatory elements in the horse, Petersen, J. (UNL) (Principal Investigator), USDA-INFA AFRI
Collaborator, Unraveling the genetic basis of congenital sensorineural deafness in blue-eyed white alpacas, Avila, F. (Principal Investigator), Alpaca Research Foundation
Co-Investigator, Genetic investigation of golden retriever cystic uveal disease, Sandmeyer, L. (USask) (Principal Investigator), Companion Animal Health Fund University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Collaborator, Evaluation of Interferon Alpha-2b as a novel treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia in the horse, Wotman, K. (CSU) (Principal Investigator), Morris Animal Foundation
Co-Investigator, Compute server for genetics, genomics and transcriptomics work, Brown, T (Principal Investigator), Center for Companion Animal Health Equipment Grant, UC Davis
Principal Investigator, Identification of active regulatory regions in the equine laminae and liver in two adult Thoroughbred mares , (Principal Investigator), Center for Equine Health, UC Davis, Bridge Funding
Most Recent Five Book Chapters
2016 Sandmeyer L, Bellone RR: Chapter 13: Inherited ocular disorders, Gilger B, (ed), Equine Ophthalmology, Third Edition , Ames, IA. 545-566.
2013 Brooks SA, Bellone RR: Chapter 9: Coat color genomics, Chowdhary B, (ed), Equine Genomics, Ames, IA. 143-53.
2009 Sponenberg DP, Archer S, Bellone RR: Patterns of white with symmetric white patches: The Leopard Complex, Sponenberg DP, (ed), Equine Color Genetics, 3rd Edition, Ames, IA. 110-21.
Research Focus

My research interests involve investigating the genetics of traits in the horse that are economically and medically important and are useful models for other species. I am currently investigating the genetics of several pigmentation phenotypes and ocular disorders; among these are the second most common tumor in the horse, limbal squamous cell carcinoma as well as the most common cause of blindness in horses, equine recurrent uveitis. The primary goal of my research program is to develop tools that will assist animal breeders in making informed mating decisions and assist clinicians in identifying horses who are at risk for ocular disorders enabling earlier detection and better prognosis.

Specialty Focus

Genetics