Other Activities

Contents:

• Activity 1 - Specific Disorders
• Activity 2 - Identifying Organizations

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Activity 1 - Specific Disorders

"Science is constantly changing. It's never dull. To me, it's all absorbing, like a wonderful hobby that allows you to do what you really like to do." ~ Marshall Nirenberg, Ph.D. (Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology - '68)

EXERCISES: Have students choose one of the diseases or disorders listed on this page. Ask them to investigate the disease and report on the following points:

• A description of the disease.
• How widespread the disease is.
• The cause of the disease, if known, and how it was discovered.
• Key researchers involved
• The status of current knowledge of the disease.
• Animal models used in the study of the disease.
• Organizations sponsoring the research.

Questions for Discussion

What is an autoimmune disease?

What is AIDS? How serious is the threat of the spread of AIDS? What is currently known about the AIDS virus? What contributions are animals making to finding the cause and cure for AIDS? Which animal species are most useful as AIDS models?

What is cancer?

How does cancer kill? How is biomedical research making progress in understanding the cancer process? What therapies has this knowledge produced? What role do animals play in cancer research? Which animal species are used most often in cancer research?

How does the heart function?

Name some examples of cardiovascular disease. What progress has biomedical research made in understanding and treating these cardiovascular disorders? What contributions have animals made to this knowledge? Which animal species make the most important contributions to understanding cardiovascular disease?

What is diabetes?

What is the current understanding of this disease? What avenues are researchers now pursuing to find a cure for diabetes? How are animals contributing to this research? Which species are used most often in diabetes research?

Name some examples of eye diseases and disorders.

How has biomedical research contributed to the understanding of these eye disorders? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

How do the kidneys function?

What are some forms of kidney disease? How has biomedical research made progress in understanding and treating kidney disease? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

How do the lungs function?

Name some diseases which affect the lungs. What progress has been made by researchers in understanding lung disease? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

What is multiple sclerosis?

What progress has been made by researchers in understanding multiple sclerosis? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

What are some neurological diseases that affect our aging population?

What progress has been made by researchers in understanding these diseases? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

What are some forms of sickle cell disease?

What is sickle cell anemia? How has biomedical research made progress in understanding and treating sickle cell anemia? Which animal species contribute to this research and what role(s) do they play?

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Activity 2: Identifying Organizations

EXERCISES:

• Have students list as many individuals and organizations they can think of that are involved with biomedical research. Use their lists as a springboard for discussion of the many and varied individuals and organizations involved in the health research pursuit.
• Have students choose three (3) of the disease topics from this page. Ask them to define the disease, then identify:
1. Individuals who might be involved in researching the disease.
2. As many institutions as possible which might sponsor or conduct research in each area.

CONSIDERATIONS:

• Who are some individuals involved in biomedical research?
• What tasks do these individuals perform?
• How might these individuals work together to perform experiments?
• What are some national organizations that support biomedical research?
• What are some provincial and local organizations that support biomedical research?
• What are some private industrial and charitable organizations that support biomedical research?