B8798 - Animal Models of Disease

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student understands the applications of animal models in the study of diseases and the development of therapeutic strategies, learning to assess their advantages and limitations; is familiar with the basic techniques for the proper care, housing, and handling of laboratory animals to ensure the correct design and conduct of experiments; knows the manipulation techniques used to generate animal models for the study of oncological and degenerative diseases, with particular reference to mice (GEMM—genetically engineered and mutant mice); understands constitutive and inducible models, as well as gene addition, deletion, and replacement models, and their use as models of human diseases; is able to analyze and interpret experimental data derived from animal models; can critically evaluate their validity and reproducibility; and understands the importance of transparency and reproducibility in research communication.

Course contents

This Course Unit is part of the Integrated Course "B8795 – ANIMAL MODELS."

Upon completion of the Integrated Course unit, the student will be able to understand the applications of animal and in vitro models in the study of diseases and in the development of therapeutic strategies, learning to evaluate their advantages and limitations. The student will be able to perform a necropsy, design an in vitro and in vivo experiment, and analyze the relevant data.

SPECIFIC CONTENTS OF THE COURSE UNIT:

MODULE 1 – Luisa Vera Muscatello

The syllabus is structured as follows:

Lectures:

• Introduction to animal models: Definition and classification of animal models (3 hours).
• Oncological models: Neoplasia models obtained with CRISPR-Cas9 technology, tumor xenografts, transgenic models, chemical carcinogenesis, and spontaneous models (4 hours).
• Cardiovascular disease models: Models of myocardial ischemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis (2 hours).
• Infectious disease models: Models of viral diseases (2 hours).
• Gastrointestinal models: Models of alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (3 hours).
• Visual system models: Models of retinopathies (2 hours).

Practical sessions/Laboratories:

• Critical analysis of experimental animal models: developing critical skills in reading and interpreting experimental data and scientific publications (2 hours).
• Reading and interpretation of histopathological alterations under the microscope or in virtual slides, across different tissues and types of animal models (6 hours).
• Formulation of an experimental model with student presentations (4 hours).

MODULE 2 – Luciana Giardino

The program is structured as follows:

Lectures:

• The laboratory animal: housing, daily care, welfare monitoring. The "mouse clinic" model (3 hours).
• Neurological models 1: neurodegenerative and inflammatory/demyelinating diseases. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (3 hours).
• Neurological models 2: traumatic and vascular lesions of the nervous system. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours).
• Rare diseases. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours).
• Models of diabetes and endocrine diseases. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours).
• Models of skin lesions. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours).
• Proper design and monitoring of an efficacy study of therapies on animal disease models (2 hours).

Practical sessions/Laboratories:

• Critical analysis of experimental animal models: developing critical skills in reading and interpreting experimental data and scientific publications (2 hours).
• Monitoring and behavioral analysis systems in cages and dedicated arenas using automated systems (6 hours).
• Formulation of an experimental model with student presentations (4 hours).

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

Required readings:

• Animal Models for the Study of Human Disease. P. Michael Conn; P. Michael Conn, editor. San Diego: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2017.
• The Care and Management of Laboratory and Other Research Animals. R. Hubrecht, J. Kirkwood (eds), Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
• Law, Animals and Toxicity Testing: The Case of the Laboratory Mouse. A.M. Wordsworth, Routledge, 2025.

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures and practical sessions/laboratories.

Considering the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance for this course requires the successful completion of Modules 1 and 2 via e-learning, and Module 3 on health and safety training in study environments. Information about the schedule and access to Module 3 is available in the dedicated section of the Degree Program website.

Participation in practical and laboratory sessions requires wearing a lab coat and appropriate footwear. Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as disposable latex gloves, will be provided as needed.

 

Assessment methods

The end-of-course exam (Modules 1 and 2) consists of an oral examination.

In evaluating the oral exam, the instructor will use the following grading scale:

- Basic understanding of only a few course topics; analysis skills emerge only with the instructor’s help; generally correct language → 18–22

- Limited knowledge of several topics; independent analysis only on procedural issues; correct language use → 23–26

- Broad knowledge of course topics; ability to make autonomous critical judgments; mastery of discipline-specific terminology → 27–29

- Comprehensive understanding of course content; fully independent critical analysis and connections; excellent command of terminology and argumentation skills → 30–30 with honors

The result of the oral exam will be communicated at the end of the session. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.

The exam is considered passed only if all parts are successfully completed. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within 5 working days of the date of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade, by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Prof. Barbara Bacci. 

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

With regard to the learning assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

 

Teaching tools

PowerPoint, videos, and software for viewing digital slides.

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

Office hours

See the website of Luisa Vera Muscatello

See the website of Luciana Giardino