Comparative Animal Models (CAM) Core

COMPARATIVE ANIMAL MODELS CORE PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of regenerative medicine is to harness stem cell biology and our understanding of endogenous tissue repair processes to enhance human regeneration. Aging studies have identified multiple hallmarks of aging and established a framework for extending healthspan. Despite this progress, the demand for replacement organs still outstrips supply and chronic, age-associated degenerative disease remains a major burden on the US healthcare system. While most human tissues and organs have limited regeneration capacity, many invertebrates and non-mammalian vertebrates show robust regeneration in response to injury and can replace lost and damaged organs, including the heart, limbs, spinal cord, and kidney. Aging studies in C. elegans were the first to identify conserved metabolic pathways impacting lifespan that may be targeted to reduce age-related degeneration. Comparative studies of these animal models provide a unique opportunity to define mechanisms of healthy aging and regeneration and identify pathways that may be targeted to enhance human regenerative potential and extend healthspan. Research on regeneration in diverse animal models requires specialized facilities and expertise. The COBRE Comparative Animal Models (CAM) Core builds on MDIBL’s signature expertise in comparative animal biology to provide the animal resources necessary to grow and sustain the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Aging. During Phases I and II COBRE funding, the CAM Core provided animal husbandry and transgenesis services for diverse animal models including zebrafish, axolotl, and C. elegans. Core service was also a major factor in the recruitment of new COBRE/MDIBL Project Leaders. Over the past ten years, CAM Core-supported research projects resulted in the publication of 61 papers by COBRE Project Leaders and 57 papers by non-COBRE faculty. This research resulted in multiple firsts for the MDIBL including the discovery of three lead small molecules for aging and regenerative medicine applications, three issued U.S. patents, and launch of a spinoff, Novo Biosciences. The primary goal of the CAM Core will be to support the research programs of all investigators in the Davis Center and to help ensure the Center’s long-term sustainability. This will be accomplished by 1) providing Davis Center faculty with animal husbandry resources, 2) Provide education and training in animal husbandry for CAM Core users and aquatic veterinary practice, and 3) expanding user fee-supported services to ensure long-term CAM Core fiscal sustainability.