Kylee Jo Duberstein, the state equine specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science, competed jumping horses at a national level for over 15 years before becoming an award-winning instructor. The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently honored her with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching for her exceptional work guiding students.

Ten university-wide projects devoted to advancing interdisciplinary research across multiple application areas have been awarded Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants as part of the 2023 cohort. The Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program was launched in 2017 and offered again in 2019 and 2021 through a partnership between the offices of Research and Public Service and Outreach. These 10 awards were chosen from 70 proposals and reflect a commitment of $1 million from UGA President Jere W. Morehead.

A new therapeutic for stroke based on University of Georgia research will soon enter clinical trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the new drug, known as AB126, to enter a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial, which is expected to begin in the first half of 2024 and will require significant funds to complete. This is the first stage of the trial and will test the safety and efficacy of the therapeutic in ischemic stroke patients.

Reflecting on the year 2023, University of Georgia researchers contributed to groundbreaking advancement in vaccines and health care, to the rejuvenation of American chestnut trees, to surprising revelations about the shy nature of Joro spiders, and much more. Including work from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, here are highlights of 12 of our most noteworthy research stories from this year.

If you’re a horse person, you get it. Just watching, touching — heck, even smelling — horses is a feeling like no other. Little wonder the students in the equine science program at the University of Georgia rank the hands-on experience as one of the biggest draws. “I’m fascinated with horses,” said junior Kayla Costin. “My favorite part of the program has been working with them and observing and learning more about them.”

Poultry may perch atop the agricultural food chain in Georgia, but beef production brought $658.6 million to the state’s economy in 2021. The impact of the beef industry took the No. 5 spot in the top 10 Georgia commodities, according to the 2021 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report published by the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.