B8798 - Animal Models of Disease

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows and understands the applications of animal models in the study of diseases and in the development of therapeutic strategies, learning to assess their advantages and limitations. The student is familiar with basic techniques for the care, housing, and proper handling of laboratory animals to ensure the correct design and execution of experiments. They are knowledgeable about 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). They understand constitutive and inducible models, as well as gene addition, deletion, and replacement models, and their use as models of human diseases. The student is able to analyze and interpret experimental data derived from animal models; critically assess their validity and reproducibility; and understand the importance of transparency and reproducibility in research communication.

Course contents

This course is a component of the Integrated Course “B8795 – ANIMAL MODELS”.

At the end of the integrated course, the student knows and understands the applications of animal and in vitro models in the study of diseases and the development of therapeutic strategies, learning to evaluate their advantages and limitations. The student is able to perform a necropsy, design an in vitro and in vivo experiment, and analyze the resulting data.

SPECIFIC CONTENT OF THE COURSE:

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: Tumor models generated 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)

Laboratory/Practical Sessions:

• Critical analysis of experimental animal models: Developing critical thinking skills in reading and interpreting experimental data and scientific publications (2 hours)
• Reading and interpretation of histopathological alterations using microscopes or virtual slides in various tissues and types of animal models (6 hours)
• Formulation of an experimental model, including student presentations (4 hours)

MODULE 2 - Luciana Giardino

The syllabus is structured as follows:

Lectures:

• Laboratory animal: Housing, daily care, and welfare monitoring. The mouse clinic model (3 hours)
• Neurological models 1: Models of neurodegenerative and inflammatory/demyelinating diseases. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (3 hours)
• Neurological models 2: Models of traumatic and vascular injuries of the nervous system. Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours)
• Rare diseases: Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours)
• Diabetes and endocrine disease models: Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours)
• Skin injury models: Disease induction, monitoring, primary and exploratory endpoints (2 hours)
• Proper design and monitoring of efficacy studies on animal models of disease (2 hours)

Laboratory/Practical Sessions:

• Critical analysis of experimental animal models: Developing critical thinking skills in reading and interpreting experimental data and scientific publications (2 hours)
• Behavioral monitoring systems and analysis in cages and dedicated arenas using automated systems (6 hours)
• Formulation of an experimental model, including 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 (Ed.). 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 includes both theoretical lectures and practical/laboratory sessions.

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 assessment for the Course (Module 1 and 2) consists of an oral exam. 

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

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, videos, 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