Laboratory animal report for 2017
At the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), a total of 48,113 animals – primarily mice and rats – were used in studies in 2017. That is 660 less than in the previous year. Of the 32,175 animals that were genetically modified, 6,644 exhibited a pathological phenotype that is necessary to better understand, for example, widespread human diseases such as cancer and heart conditions.
| Mice | 41,783 |
| Rats | 5,801 |
| Zebrafish | 492 |
| Other rodents | 23 |
| Rabbits | 6 |
| Golden hamsters | 5 |
| Clawed frogs | 2 |
| Guinea pigs | 1 |
| Total | 48,113 |
Avoiding and minimizing animal suffering is one of the main objectives of the “3Rs” principle – reduce, refine, replace – which the MDC pursues at every stage of research. In most cases, MDC researchers conduct initial studies on cell or tissue cultures or with computer models. They are also constantly developing new methods to analyze medical problems, for example, with mini-organs (organoids) and other stem cell technologies.
Processes in the brain and immune system are too complex for computer simulation
When animal studies are required, modern omics technologies allow enormous amounts of data to be collected from very few experiments. What’s more, methods such as CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing create animal models that more closely resemble human diseases than ever before. The MDC is also expanding its facilities for non-invasive imaging techniques.
When examining disease mechanisms or testing new treatment strategies, researchers often have no alternative than to study living organisms. “Processes that occur in the brain or the immune system, for example, are far too complex for us to simulate on a computer,” explains Professor Martin Lohse, Scientific Director at the MDC. To understand the interaction between the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the respiratory tract, animal studies are currently indispensable. “We are highly aware of our responsibility towards animals. But the fact remains that findings from animal studies enable us all to lead longer and healthier lives.”
