A New Platform For Using The Zebrafish In Scientific Research

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 20 Feb 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The AZTI-Tecnalia technology centre is coordinating the new Spanish Technology Platform to encourage the use of the zebrafish in scientific research linked to fields like human health and biotechnology. The platform known as DareNET has the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the National Network Programme, and is coordinated by a Management Board formed by AZTI-Tecnalia, the Andalusian Biology Development Centre (CABD-CSIC), the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), and the companies ZF BIOLABS and BIOBIDE

The zebrafish (danio rerio) is an excellent biological model for use in a range of scientific areas and techniques like biomedicine, the environment, aquaculture, and food. The use of the zebrafish is expanding rapidly in the scientific and business field owing to its high degree of genetic similarity with higher vertebrates and humans, its ease of handling and reproduction, as well as the great possibilities it has for the new genomic and proteomic technologies.

The DareNET platform aims to develop the use of this animal model by companies, universities and research centres in all areas of knowledge and application. The zebrafish is used in very diverse areas of application, like the quest for therapeutic solutions, toxicological studies or as a model for human diseases. Right now it constitutes a great alternative to research on vertebrates like mice, which entail greater cost.

The DareNET platform has set up a website -http://www.daniorerio.net- that will be a forum for sharing knowledge among researchers who use the zebrafish, as well as for making the work of this technology platform known. One of its aims is to specifically train the research personnel who work with this species and to create standardized procedures of work aimed at consolidating and fostering its use in scientific work.

Lastly, the DareNET platform is seeking to incorporate, as members, all those organisations and research teams that use the zebrafish model on a routine basis, so that the network will become a hub for them all and serve, at the same time, to promote the zebrafish and make it known throughout Spain and in neighbouring countries.

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Source: Irati Kortabitarte
Elhuyar Fundazioa

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