About Mansfield Lab

The Mansfield Lab is a newly established lab that has been set up to investigate the role of the GI tract (the bacteria and viruses that inhabit it as well as its immune system) in chronic disease- inside and outside the GI tract. Hippocrates stated that “All disease begins in the gut”, and recent evidence certainly supports that premise. We aim to build a collaborative and curious group of researchers that explore this concept in our companion animal pets (cats and dogs), while looking for more effective ways to treat and prevent disease developing.

Here are some recently published papers from our group:

  1. B. S. Turner, S. M. Firestone, F.R. Dunshea and C. Mansfield. Effect of body composition and age on the quantitative and qualitative ultrasound appearance of the dogs’ pancreas. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound (in press)
  2. B. S. Turner, S. M. Firestone, F.R. Dunshea and C. Mansfield. Abdominal visceral to subcutaneous fat distribution in dogs: computed tomography accuracy and factors associated with distribution. BMC Veterinary Research (in press)
  3. B. S. Turner, S. M. Firestone, F. R. Dunshea, and C. Mansfield, “Survey on Inter- and Intra-Observer Variations of the Ultrasound Assessment of Dog Pancreases.” Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound67, no. 4 (2026): e70202. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.70202
  4. Chelsea Lim, Julien R.S. Dandrieux, Richard Ploeg, Cameron J. Nowell, Simon M. Firestone, Caroline S. Mansfield. Evaluation of Ki-67, goblet cell and MUC2 mucin RNA expression in dogs with lymphoplasmacytic and granulomatous colitis Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology Volume 271, 2024, 110740, ISSN 0165-2427, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2024.110740.

 

Our current projects:

  • Validation of fecal collection and storage methods for microbiome and metabolome analysis in cats.
  • Impact of early-life antimicrobials on later life allergic disease in cats
  • Impact of early-life antimicrobials on later life allergic disease in dogs
  • Epidemiological study of hypercalcemia in cats..
  • Validation and novel capsule sampling techniques to assess the GI microbiome of dogs
  • Mechanistic Evaluation of SCFA-Releasing Prebiotics on Gut Microbial Metabolism in Feline CKD using an in-vitro anaerobic model.
  • The impact of probiotics on the gastrointestinal microbiome and phosphate homeostasis in cats with chronic kidney disease.
  • Validation and assessment of intestinal fatty acid binding protein as a marker of gut permeability.

 

Caroline Mansfield, BSc BVMS MVM PhD MANZCVSc DECVIM

PubMed Bibliography

Caroline Mansfield BSc, BVMS, MVM, PhD, MANZCVSc, DECVIM-CA

Professor

Professor Caroline Mansfield is a veterinary clinician-scientist with an international reputation in small animal internal medicine, gastrointestinal pathophysiology, and microbiome research. She is currently a Professor in Small Animal Medicine at Michigan State University, a Professorial Research Fellow (Honorary) at the University of Queensland, and Adjunct Professor at both Monash University and the University of Melbourne. Her academic appointments reflect a sustained record of clinical and translational research, coupled with a commitment to mentoring and veterinary education.

Professor Mansfield holds a PhD in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, a Diplomate title with the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Companion Animals), and multiple postgraduate clinical qualifications. Over a career spanning more than two decades, she has developed a research program focused on gastrointestinal and systemic disease in companion animals, with an emphasis on translational models of chronic enteropathy, gut barrier dysfunction, host-microbiome interactions, and metabolic disease. Her research has been supported by national and international funding bodies, including the Morris Animal Foundation, Mars, EveryCat Foundation, and the Australian Government.

To date, she has authored over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 40 peer-reviewed conference abstracts. Her work has achieved over 2,200 citations, with an h-index of 34 and a normalized citation impact exceeding 2.5, indicating strong field relevance and influence. Approximately one-third of her publications involve international collaboration, reflecting her highly collegial and networked approach to research.

In addition to research, Professor Mansfield has led major academic and clinical initiatives. At the University of Melbourne, she held leadership roles including Director of Clinical Research, Director of U-Vet Veterinary Hospital, and Head of Small Animal Medicine. She has supervised over 40 higher degree and clinical training candidates and has played a key role in postgraduate program development, curriculum design, and professional education in veterinary medicine. She is past-President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, previous Editor of the Australian Veterinary Practitioner journal and member of industry advisory boards.

Professor Mansfield is the current Pat Carrigan Chair of Feline Health at MSU, a role that reflects her passion and commitment to feline medicine.

Pothuvilage Hansani Kartunarathne, BSc MSc PhD

Dr. Pothuvilage (Hansani) Kartunarathne BSc MSc PhD

Post-doctoral Researcher

I am originally from Sri Lanka, where I earned my B.Sc. in Agricultural Technology and Management and M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from the University of Peradeniya. My early research focused on the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of plant extracts against food-borne pathogens. I completed my Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University, where I investigated the effects of tocotrienols on the plasma metabolomic profile of end-stage renal disease patients using NMR-based metabolomics.

Following my Ph.D., I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University with Dr. Robert Quinn. There, I developed and applied LC-MS and GC-MS workflows to clinical specimens such as sputum, exhaled breath condensate, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. My work focused on microbial metabolism and the lung metabolome, contributing to new diagnostic approaches and providing insights into treatment-induced metabolic changes in cystic fibrosis.

Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University, working with Dr. Caroline Mansfield. My research focuses on the interactions between the host and the microbiome in systemic diseases of companion animals. I contribute to ongoing longitudinal studies and lead independent projects aimed at understanding how microbial and metabolic interactions shape disease progression. Through this work, I seek to advance translational host–microbiome research with a focus on improving companion animal health.

Haley Momany DVM

Dr. Haley Momany, DVM

Small Animal Internal Medicine Resident

Haley grew up in the Pacific Northwest and earned her undergraduate degree from Whitman College. During veterinary school, she was inducted into the Iota Chapter of Phi Zeta, a national veterinary honor society. In 2024, she graduated with honors from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded the American Association of Feline Practitioners/EveryCat Health Foundation Clinical Practice Scholarship in recognition of her dedication to feline health. She subsequently completed a year-long rotating internship in Portland, Oregon. Her goal is to become a board-certified internal medicine specialist with a focus on feline health.

Haley will be conducting a research project on the impact of manipulating the gut microbiome on managing idiopathic hypercalcemia in cats.