Camryn Haines | Research to Reality

Published Articles

A selection of my published writing across veterinary medicine, biomedical science and agriculture.

More Than Feather Deep: Texas A&M Study Reveals A Faster Path To Evolution

Texas A&M researchers discovered how repeated changes in a single gene, MC1R, have driven the evolution of diverse feather color patterns in domestic chickens. The findings provide new insight into how complex traits evolve over time and could improve scientists’ understanding of pigmentation in other animals, including humans.

Texas A&M AI Tool Could Help Veterinarians Track Heart Disease More Precisely

Texas A&M researchers developed an artificial intelligence tool that analyzes chest X-rays to help veterinarians identify signs of heart enlargement and heart disease in dogs more quickly and consistently. The technology is designed to support clinical decision-making, improve early diagnosis, and expand access to advanced cardiac screening in veterinary practice.

Texas A&M Researchers Map Tick Habitat to Strengthen African Swine Fever Preparedness

Texas A&M researchers mapped where a long-lived soft tick native to Texas is most likely to survive, helping scientists better understand its potential role in the spread of African swine fever should the virus reach the United States. The findings provide valuable information for disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness, supporting efforts to protect the U.S. swine industry from one of the world’s most devastating livestock diseases.

Tiny Molecules, Big Possibilities: Texas A&M Researchers Explore A New Way To Slow Lung Cancer

Texas A&M researchers identified two naturally occurring microRNAs that can suppress the growth and protein production of non-small cell lung cancer cells, revealing a potential new strategy for slowing cancer progression. The findings improve scientists’ understanding of how these molecules regulate cell growth and may help guide the development of more targeted cancer therapies.

Too Much RNA Can Starve Cells Of Energy, Texas A&M Study Finds

Texas A&M researchers discovered that excess RNA inside cells can disrupt mitochondria—the structures responsible for producing cellular energy—revealing a previously unknown consequence of viral infection and other conditions that cause RNA buildup. The findings offer new insight into the links between RNA regulation, energy production, and diseases ranging from viral infections to age-related disorders and RNA-based therapies.

Aoudad Could Spread Deadly Disease To Bighorn Populations

Texas A&M researchers found that invasive aoudad may help sustain and spread the respiratory pathogens responsible for fatal pneumonia in desert bighorn sheep. The findings provide wildlife managers with new information to support conservation efforts and better protect vulnerable bighorn populations.

Giving Confiscated Parrots A Second Chance: Texas A&M Research Finds A New Way To Prepare Birds For Life In The Wild

Texas A&M researchers found that free-flight training can help confiscated parrots develop the survival skills needed for successful release, including predator avoidance, navigation, flocking, and foraging. The findings demonstrate that structured training can improve long-term survival and provide conservationists with a practical new tool for restoring threatened wild parrot populations.

Feline Fleas Carry Bacteria Linked To Human Disease In South Texas, Texas A&M Study Finds

Texas A&M researchers found that some fleas collected from free-roaming cats in South Texas carried the bacteria responsible for murine typhus, a flea-borne disease that can cause illness in people. The findings highlight the importance of year-round flea prevention and improved surveillance to better understand how the disease persists and spreads in communities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Healing Where It Hurts: Texas A&M Researchers Develop A New Approach For Treating Wounds

Texas A&M researchers are developing a bandage-like device that delivers hydrogen sulfide—a naturally occurring gas in the body—directly to chronic wounds to improve blood flow and promote healing. Designed for patients with conditions such as diabetes, the technology offers a targeted approach that could help difficult-to-heal wounds recover more effectively while reducing the need for more invasive treatments.

Breathing Easier: How A Texas A&M Clinical Trial Helped One Pug Regain His Energy

A Texas A&M clinical trial found that weight loss can significantly improve breathing and quality of life in brachycephalic dogs, helping reduce airway-related symptoms without surgery. The study followed overweight, short-muzzled dogs through a structured weight-loss program and demonstrated that even modest reductions in body weight can lead to meaningful improvements in respiratory function and daily activity levels.

Texas A&M Researchers Develop Lab-Grown Muscle Cells To Reduce Animal Use In Research

Texas A&M researchers developed and commercialized MyoK9, the first widely available immortalized canine muscle cell line, providing scientists with a reliable laboratory model for studying muscle diseases and testing potential therapies. The cell line can reduce the need for live animals in early-stage research while accelerating the development and evaluation of treatments for canine and human muscle disorders.

Dogs And Humans Are More Alike Than We Thought, Texas A&M Study Finds

Researchers with the Dog Aging Project identified specific blood metabolites associated with longer lifespans and healthier aging in dogs, offering new insight into the biological processes that influence longevity. The findings could help scientists better understand aging in both dogs and humans while supporting future efforts to promote healthier, longer lives.

New $2.9 Million NIH Grant Supports Growing Research Connecting Father’s Drinking To Children’s Long-Term Health Issues

Texas A&M researcher Dr. Michael Golding received a $2.9 million NIH grant to study how a father’s alcohol use before conception may influence a child’s long-term health, including risks for developmental disorders, chronic disease, and accelerated aging. The research focuses on how alcohol exposure alters biological signals in sperm and may affect offspring development across generations.

Are The Chemicals Around You Actually Safe? AI Is Helping Find Out

Texas A&M researchers developed uncertainty-aware artificial intelligence models capable of predicting the toxicity of more than 100,000 marketed chemicals, helping identify substances that may pose elevated human health risks. The findings demonstrate how machine learning can improve chemical safety assessments while also providing transparency about prediction confidence and data gaps.

How A Fish Rewrote Its Genetic Playbook To Survive A New Sea

Texas A&M researchers helped uncover how Atlantic herring rapidly adapted to the Baltic Sea’s unique low-salinity environment through widespread genetic changes across the species’ genome. The findings provide new insight into how animals evolve in response to environmental pressures and may help scientists better understand adaptation in changing ecosystems.

Texas A&M Research Reveals More Than 84% Of Dogs Show Signs Of Fear, Anxiety

A Texas A&M study using data from the Dog Aging Project found that many dogs regularly display fear- and anxiety-related behaviors, ranging from mild stress responses to more serious behavioral concerns. The findings highlight how common behavioral issues are in companion dogs and emphasize the importance of recognizing early signs before they escalate into more severe problems.

Helping Dogs Feel Safer: Understanding Fear And Anxiety In Everyday Situations

Texas A&M veterinary behavior experts explain how fear and anxiety can affect dogs in everyday situations, from thunderstorms and unfamiliar visitors to loud or crowded environments. The guidance highlights common behavioral signs of stress and offers strategies owners can use to help dogs feel safer, more comfortable, and better supported over time.

Texas A&M Study Highlights Heart Damage Risk From Ractopamine Exposure In Dogs

Texas A&M veterinarians documented cases showing that accidental ingestion of ractopamine — a feed additive used in livestock — can cause severe cardiac damage in dogs, including dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities and, in some cases, death. The findings emphasize the risks of cross-exposure in agricultural settings and the importance of early treatment to improve outcomes.

Coffee Doesn’t Just Wake You Up — It May Help Protect Your Body From Aging

Texas A&M researchers found that compounds in coffee interact with the NR4A1 receptor, a key regulator linked to aging and diseases such as cancer and inflammation, helping explain coffee’s potential protective health effects. The findings suggest that coffee’s natural compounds may influence biological pathways tied to aging, supporting its potential role in disease prevention and improved long-term health.

What If Humans Could Regrow Tissue? Texas A&M Study Moves Science Closer

Texas A&M researchers found that applying specific growth factors can trigger the regeneration of complex tissues—including bone, tendons, and cartilage—rather than forming scar tissue. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about human healing and move scientists closer to developing therapies that could restore damaged limbs and tissues.

‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected In Dolphin Milk, Study By Texas A&M Superfund Center Shows

Texas A&M researchers discovered that PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are present in dolphin milk and can be transferred from mothers to their calves during early development. The findings highlight a previously under-recognized pathway of exposure and suggest that marine mammals — and potentially humans — may face early-life health risks from these persistent environmental contaminants.

VERO Panel Examines Why Bovine Respiratory Disease Persists Despite Widespread Vaccination

Experts from across the cattle industry gathered at Texas A&M’s VERO campus to explore why bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains a leading cause of illness and death despite widespread vaccination. The discussion highlighted how factors like vaccine timing, cattle management practices, and the complex, multi-pathogen nature of BRD limit vaccine effectiveness and complicate disease prevention efforts.

Can Weight Loss Help Short-Muzzled Dogs Breathe Easier?

A Texas A&M clinical trial is investigating whether weight loss can improve breathing in overweight brachycephalic dog breeds, which are already prone to airway restrictions due to their anatomy. The study aims to provide a non-surgical, more accessible approach to managing respiratory issues while helping veterinarians better understand how excess weight impacts canine breathing.

Texas A&M Research Sheds New Light On Heartworm’s Ancient Global History

Using whole-genome sequencing, Texas A&M researchers discovered that heartworm populations around the world are genetically distinct and likely spread far earlier than previously believed, potentially predating modern dog movement and even European colonization. The findings suggest heartworm evolution is closely tied to ancient canid migration and provide a genetic baseline to better track disease spread and monitor emerging drug resistance.

Dog Aging Project Studies Offer Insight Into How Owners Experience Pet Loss

New research from the Dog Aging Project reveals that grief experiences among dog owners are strikingly similar regardless of how a dog dies and highlights ways veterinarians can better guide families through end-of-life decisions.

A Risk In the Ripple: Understanding Heterobilharzia americana In Dogs

Texas A&M veterinarians warn that Heterobilharzia americana, a freshwater parasite found in parts of the southern United States, can infect dogs that swim or wade in contaminated water. Experts explain how the parasite spreads, the symptoms it can cause, and steps pet owners can take to reduce their dogs’ risk of infection.

Sweet Cherry Compounds Show Promise in Slowing Aggressive Breast Cancer Spread, Texas A&M Study Discovers

Researchers at Texas A&M investigated extracts from dark sweet cherries rich in anthocyanins—natural compounds found in the fruit—for their activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly hard-to-treat subtype. In lab models, cherry anthocyanins showed promise both in slowing tumor growth and enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy, while also influencing pathways linked to metastasis and drug resistance, suggesting these dietary phytochemicals may offer a complementary approach to conventional treatments.