The Division of Comparative Medicine in the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs Supports Animal Model and Related Biological Materials Resources for Innovation in Biomedical Research

Authors

• SJ Murphy
• B Buhring
• S Chandran
• M Contreras
• O Mirochnitchenko
• R Tandon
• B Tian
• D Vonkollmar
• S Zou

Abstract

The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), part of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Director, advances biomedical innovation by supporting animal model development, access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, educational training programs, and small businesses to develop new technologies. Comparative medicine plays an essential role in biomedical discovery by looking for similarities and differences in diseases between humans and animals. Thus, animal models enable scientists to better understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat human diseases. Often serving as a bridge between basic science and human medicine, animal models have enabled numerous major medical breakthroughs—among them safe and effective vaccines, including hepatitis A and hepatitis B immunizations; critical therapeutics like insulin; improved cancer treatments; blood transfusions; organ transplantation; cardiovascular bypass surgery; and joint replacement. Animal models are actively used to understand the causes of, and develop therapies for, almost all human conditions, including cancer; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes; obesity; and neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. The Division of Comparative Medicine (https://orip.nih.gov/division-comparative-medicine) in ORIP works to ensure that NIH-supported researchers have access to and facilities for animal models, including rodents, aquatic models, nonhuman primates, invertebrates, and others, as well as related biological materials critical to research; supports phenotypic and genetic characterization of animal models and the development of new and improved long-term storage of animal germplasm; and sustains studies aimed at improving the welfare and husbandry of laboratory animals.

Scientific Focus Area: Research Support Services

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