The ViaGen Pets and Equine Team

ViaGen Pets and Equine’s work to deliver genetic preservation and cloning services to pet and horse owners worldwide is lead by Blake. Blake also personally runs an equine breeding program at his own ranch in North Texas, where he and his family take care of his prized cloned stallion Pure Tailor Fit–a clone of Tailor Fit–the two-time AQHA Racing World Champion.

Blake has had a successful 25 year career in the animal genetics business–working in more than fifteen countries–and has been responsible for sales, marketing, business development, general management and operations. Blake received his B.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and his MBA from Emory University.

ViaGen Pets and Equine’s genetic preservation and cloning research are lead by Shawn and he has been one of the nation’s leading cloning experts for more than twenty years. While earning his PhD, Shawn did pioneering work in developing a highly efficient method for animal cloning.

Shawn’s family has two dogs; Maggie is a Schnoodle, a cross between a Giant Schnauzer and a Standard poodle and Tessa is a cross between an Anatolian Shepard and a Great Pyrenees.  They also have a cat, Licorice, and a pot belly pig, Stinky, as well as 18 sheep and two horses–Anna and Appie.

Shawn received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Texas A&M University and his M.S. degree in Veterinary Medicine from Virginia Tech University.

ViaGen Pets and Equine’s Cell Culture Department is lead by Sanaz.

Sanaz joined ViaGen Pets and Equine in 2003 as a Research Associate.  She has been extensively involved in the development of Genetic Preservation and Express Tissue Bank services.

In both the Cell Culture and Cloning Departments, Sanaz has assisted in developing many new procedures, enhanced protocols and optimized laboratory procedures to improve genetic preservation results. Over the past decade, she has focused exclusively on the Cell Culture Department. Since 2008 Sanaz has served as the Cell Culture Manager, overseeing the Cell Culture Laboratory and providing support to the Cloning Department. Sanaz earned her B.A. in Biology from The University of Texas-Austin.

Kelcey is an embryologist at ViaGen Pets and Equine.

Kelcey started working at ViaGen Pets and Equine in 2006.  She began part-time, assisting with both cell culture and cloning.  Dr. Kelcey now runs laboratory management, cell culture and media preparation, as well as having become part of the Cloning team. Dr. Kelcey received a B.S. in Biology from William & Mary, a M.S. from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

Lauren leads the management of all of our locations and oversees all accounting and marketing activities at ViaGen Pets and Equine.

Lauren began working at ViaGen Pets and Equine in 2008 and has handled diverse responsibilities, including managing patent portfolios, HR, marketing activities and trade show engagement.

Lauren received a B.A. in Crime, Law and Justice from Pennsylvania State University.

Melain leads ViaGen Pets and Equine efforts to deliver exceptional care and service to every pet and horse owner with whom we partner.

Melain has been a member of the ViaGen Pets and Equine team since 2008, having started as a Cell Culture Associate. Since 2009 she has served as the Client Service Manager.

Melain received her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Arkansas. She has a diverse background in biochemistry and molecular biology and has worked in research laboratories at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of California, San Diego.

Melain loves being around all types of animals.  She is a doting pet parent to one dog, two cats and two chickens!

Rana assists with the work of the Cell Culture Laboratory.

Rana joined ViaGen Pets and Equine in 2013 and administers genetic preservation laboratory services, including tissue processing and cell culture maintenance.

Before coming to ViaGen Pets and Equine, Rana worked in clinical compliance, quality control and protocol development for Phase III clinical research trials for new pharmaceuticals. Rana earned a B.S. in Biology from Texas State University.

Dennis leads ViaGen Pets work in production and implantation of feline and canine embryos.

Dennis is an accomplished embryologist.  For more then eight years at ViaGen Pets and Equine, he has expanded the knowledge of how to bring embryos to term, advancing protocols and optimizing procedures.

Dennis earned his B.S. in Medical Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Codi assists Melain in delivering on the commitment of ViaGen Pets and Equine to provide exceptional client care. She has been a part of ViaGen Pets and Equine since 2015.

Codi has been around animals most of her life, having grown up on a farm in West Virginia where her brother raised Hereford beef cattle and pigs. She is the proud pet parent to two dogs -Scylla and Winston. Codi earned her B.A. at West Virginia University.

Dr. Kerry oversees every aspect of the care of the cloned puppies and kittens from the start of the cloning process until they’re ready to go to their new homes. Dr. Kerry joined the ViaGen Pets and Equine team in the fall of 2017.

Prior to joining the ViaGen Pets and Equine team, she worked as a small animal veterinarian for 6 years. Dr. Kerry received a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Dr. Ryan and her husband’s four-legged family members are Piper and Haddie, both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, a crazy cat named Ninja, and Triton, a Thoroughbred horse.

Jillian started her time with ViaGen Pets and Equine in the Cell Culture department before transferring to the Cloning team where she works with production and implantation of feline and canine embryos. She earned a M.S. in Animal Science at New Mexico State University with a focus on reproductive endocrinology and has worked with a variety of animal species.

Jillian loves animals of all types and her family includes her dog Toby and her ball python Smaug.

Anita provides exceptional care and support to our puppies and kittens.

Anita joined the ViaGen Pets and Equine team in 2019. She plays an integral role in the socialization of our puppies and kittens.

Anita earned her B.S. in Veterinary Science Technology from SUNY Canton and is a licensed Veterinarian Technician. She is the proud parent of a wild Redtick Coonhound mix named Leela, and two cats, a brother and sister named Boy and Girl.