Kaplan Lab Wins 2025 Campus Safety Award
The Kaplan Lab focuses on translational cardiovascular medicine, studying new ways to diagnose and treat heart disease in cats and dogs, and by extension, humans. Using a multi-omics approach, which combines data from various biological molecules, such as the genome, transcriptome, and epigenome, the team works to better understand the complex pathways that lead to cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Kaplan and her team’s overarching goal is to improve breeding, screening and treatment practices through precision medicine tailored to each animal’s unique genetic and molecular makeup. By uncovering the individual factors that contribute to heart disease, veterinarians can more precisely and effectively treat their patients.
Safety and support are foundational in the Kaplan Lab. Members receive comprehensive safety training and yearly refreshers, and lab-specific standard operating procedures and safety documentation are updated regularly. Frequent risk assessments are conducted to ensure instruments are working properly and potential hazards are identified early. Dr. Kaplan noted lab manager Diana Polhac’s proactive role, updating safety protocols and monitoring for expired materials that require proper disposal.