Many Animals Contribute To Medical Research Advances

"I know that physiology cannot possibly progress except by means of experiments on living animals, and I feel with the deepest conviction that he who retards the progress of physiology commits a crime against mankind." -Charles Darwin

Scientists look for a model of the human condition which they wish to study. Since humans and animals share so many illnesses, animals can be very good models for the study of human disease.

Cats, for example, sometimes suffer from "wandering eye," so Nobel Prize-winning work on this eye problem was carried out in cats. The knowledge gained from this research now benefits both humans and cats.

This is frequently what happens in medical research -- animals are used as models for human illnesses, and the discoveries made as a result of this research later help both human beings and the animals which made the research possible.

Let's take a closer look at some of the animal species more commonly used in medical research and what contributions they make to the advancement of medical knowledge. Click on any of the animal names in the navigation bar to the left, to learn more about its use in biomedical research.

Animals Are Needed in Research!
RODENT	- Aging - Alzheimer's Disease - Cancer & Nutrition - Muscular Dystrophy - Bone Research - Kidney Disease - Cardiovascular Disease	DOG	-Cardiovascular Research - Vision Research (Glaucoma, Cataracts) - Muscular Dystrophy - Diabetes
ARMADILLO	- Leprosy - Reproductive & Genetic Research	MONKEY	- Anaesthesia Research - Periodontal Disease - Vaccines (e.g. polio) - Heart Disease & Cholesterol Research - AIDS
CAT	- Brain Research - Neurological Research - Leukemia (including feline) - Hearing Research - Sleep Physiology	OPOSSUM	- Immunology Research - Reproductive Research - Genetic Research
PIG	- Organ Transplants - Diabetes - Heart Disease - Circulation Research - Osteoporosis - Arthritis	SNAKE	- Anti-venom Serums - Pain Killing Drugs - Medical Diagnostic Tests

These are just a few of the animals which are humanely used in research, when necessary, to help end suffering and save lives.