Search Results: "Genetic diseases"

Species Entry

Rat

Rats have long been a valuable model in research to answer many questions about physiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, nutrition, behavior, and learning. They have contributed to medical advances for obesity, diabetes and cancer, as well as those for cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory and immune mediated diseases.  

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Featured Studies

The tiny fish that has helped unlock the mysteries of human disease

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In 1993, Leonard Zon had 110 fish tanks and an idea. Zon, a professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard University, thought to study human diseases in zebrafish. The freshwater fish, native to the streams and rice paddies of India and Myanmar, struck him as…

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Species Entry

Pig

The anatomy and function of organ systems in pigs are very similar to that of humans.  Pig and human hearts and their associated blood vessels are approximately the same size and structure. Thus pigs are a valuable model in understanding heart function, disease, and treatment. Both pigs and people are…

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Come See Our World!

Come See Our World (CSOW) is your window into the world of life changing research involving animals. We invite you to see the animals that are integral to medical progress.  Advancements in human and animal health would not be possible without these important animals, as well as their caregivers, researchers,…

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Animals in Research

Geriatric rhesus macaque

The colony of rhesus macaques at the California National Primate Research Center consists of infants to adults.  Their average life span in the wild is 18 years.  Monkeys live up to 38 years old at the Center due to the excellent nutrition and medical care provided.  The aged rhesus colony…

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Animals in Research

Marmoset MRI

Researchers view a marmoset’s MRI as part of an aging study to explore links between energy metabolism and neural function.  Diseases related to aging are serious concerns for the world's rapidly expanding population of older adults.  Some of these include: Type 2 diabetes, many cancers, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, obesity, metabolic syndrome,…

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Animals in Research

Monkey in imaging

Imaging technologies have greatly reduced the number of animals needed for research.  In the past, animals would have had to be euthanized in order to examine internal organs while today imaging allows visualization and study of what was previously not possible.  Here an anesthetized marmoset monkey is being prepared to…

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Species Entry

Guinea Pig

Because guinea pigs are similar to humans in the symptoms and immune response they have to bacterial infections, they have been studied for more than 200 years. They have contributed to advances in treating diseases that affect the lungs, ears, eyes, arteries, stomach, intestines, and those that are sexually transmitted.…

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Species Entry

Rabbit

Rabbits are the reason our dogs and cats can live with us in our houses.  Louis Pasteur worked with rabbits to develop the first rabies vaccine which made it safe to bring pets into our homes.  Rabbits have a similar anatomy and physiology to humans, especially their cardiovascular system, and…

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