Fewer and better experimental animal models

We aim to increase knowledge on health, and at the same time use fewer and better animal models.

The EU uses 15 million animals for experiments each year. Most of them are models for human diseases.  At The School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science we contribute to reduce the use and refine the experimental animal models. We do this by adapting the animal models to a high degree of resemblance with human diseases, by trying to lessen stress on the individual animal and reducing the uncontrolled variation in the animals.

We work with models on metabolic-inflammatory life style diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases as well as diseases within psychiatry and allergy, that may also have inflammatory components.

We aim to develop new biomarkers in the models, so we can achieve better predictive validity – meaning the results in the animals can more efficiently predict the results in humans.

Contact: Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.