Animal Models for the Study of Human Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

The use of animal models in biomedical research has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of human diseases. Animal models allow researchers to simulate the pathophysiology of human conditions, providing critical insights into disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, and drug efficacy. The translation of basic scientific knowledge into clinical applications often relies on these models, which provide important preclinical data to inform clinical trials and treatment strategies.

This Special Issue, titled "Animal Models for the Study of Human Diseases", aims at showcasing the latest advancements in the use of animal models for understanding human diseases, improving therapeutic approaches, and bridging the gap between basic science and clinical practice. We invite high-quality research papers and reviews that highlight innovative techniques, findings, and applications in this ever-evolving field.

For this Special Issue, we encourage submissions on a wide array of topics related to animal models for human diseases, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Development and improvement of animal models for specific human diseases:

• Creation of novel animal models for diseases.
• Development or advancements in more accurate models to reflect human disease heterogeneity and complexities.
• Genetic, environmental, and mechanistic factors in animal models of human disease.

2. Modeling disease progression and treatment responses:

• Animal models for studying disease progression, biomarkers, and the molecular basis of disease.
• Use of animal models for testing drug efficacy, safety, and toxicity.
• Evaluation of therapeutic strategies, including gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy, and small molecule treatments.

3. Humanization of animal models:

• Generation of humanized animal models to better mimic human physiology and pathology.
• Development of transgenic animals to study human diseases at the molecular and cellular levels.
• Integration of human tissues or cells into animal models to better reflect human disease and treatment responses.

4. Translational applications of animal models:

• From bench to bedside: the role of animal models in advancing clinical treatments and therapies.
• Impact of animal research on personalized medicine, including the use of animal models to identify patient subtypes or predict treatment responses.
• Animal models in the study of rare diseases and orphan drug development.

Dr. Yong-He Ding
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• animal models
• zebrafish
• mice
• rats