Dr. Natasha Hamilton has been appointed the new Chairman of the Gene Doping Control Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Chairman Louis Romanet announced on Tuesday. Hamilton began her duties on Oct. 8, following a meeting of the IFHA Executive Council and she replaces Dr. Kanichi Kusano, Manager Administrative Division, Racehorse Hospital Ritto Training Centre of the Japan Racing Association who remains on the subcommittee. Hamilton is the Director of the Equine Genetics Research Laboratory in Scone, New South Wales, Australia. Prior to that, she spent 10 years teaching neurophysiology and equine science at the University of Sydney.
“It continues to be vitally important that racing and breeding authorities are advised of best regulatory practice of gene therapies and are equipped with sound strategies and guidelines to prevent the misuse of such therapies,” said Romanet in a statement. “The IFHA welcomes Dr. Hamilton as the new chair of this important subcommittee, and we are confident that she will skillfully lead its members in their mission to protect the integrity of horseracing and the Thoroughbred breed by examining genetic and cellular therapies with respect to possible welfare, safety, performance and breeding outcomes.”
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