The University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is proud to announce Katie Minor as the 2026 recipient of the Hill's Research Staff Excellence Award. As the manager of the UMN Canine Genetics Laboratory for over two decades, Minor has been a cornerstone of the College’s research mission, bridging the gap between complex laboratory science and real-world health solutions for animals.

The award, which recognizes the vital contributions of research staff and postdoctoral associates, highlights Minor’s rare combination of technical mastery, administrative leadership, and scientific intuition.

Minor’s contributions go well beyond the day-to-day management of the lab; she helps expand the boundaries of what we know about animal health. She currently oversees a genetic testing service that offers screening for 32 inherited canine diseases—the majority of which she was directly involved in discovering.

Her "detective work" is legendary among her colleagues. Recently, when standard computational tools failed to identify the cause of a rare urinary stone in cats, Minor manually reviewed the genetic sequencing data. Her persistence led to the discovery of a specific gene duplication and deletion, allowing her to design a new diagnostic test within a single week.

“This type of brilliant application of genetics knowledge is a regular occurrence with Katie,” says Eva Furrow, CVM associate professor and Minor’s nominator. “Her contributions are so great that she is often a lead author [on major studies].”

Beyond the lab bench, Minor has cultivated deep roots within the international breeding community. For years, she has maintained a partnership with the Leonberger Health Foundation International, working directly with breed clubs to identify health goals and manage biobanks of DNA samples. This collaborative spirit extends to her role as a mentor; over her career, she has trained dozens of undergraduate, veterinary, and PhD students—including Furrow herself during her graduate studies.

Minor’s impact is perhaps best seen in the UMN Canine Genetics Lab’s international reputation. Her work ensures that breeders and veterinarians across the globe have the data they need to make informed decisions, ultimately reducing the prevalence of hereditary disorders in dogs.

Minor will be formally recognized at the 2026 Research, Innovation, Discovery, and Education (RIDE) Summit on June 17.