It is our mission to conduct research that bridges basic science and clinical practice as well as biobanks of a variety of samples with the “Zoobiquity” concept.

・What is Translational Research?
“Translational Research” means "bridging research," in which the results of basic research are utilized to contribute to clinical practice.

 

・Translational research in the field of veterinary medicine
Translational research in the field of veterinary medicine can be interpreted a little more broadly, that is, to contribute to both veterinary medicine and human medicine by sharing knowledge obtained from excellent results and discoveries in veterinary research (Fig.1).
Focusing on the similarities and/or differences in homologous diseases and physiological functions of various animal species such as dogs and cats in addition to laboratory animals is important. Not only limited to basic research aiming at preclinical research, but also clinical research in veterinary practice for dogs and cats with diseases are included in this regard.
 In contrast to translational research of diseases in human medicine, translational research within veterinary medicine (contribution to veterinary clinical practice from basic research where various diseases and animal species are considered) is also one possible direction. The bottom line is veterinary medicine can be a field with many "small bridges" for translational research (Fig.2).

 

・Translational Research Unit
 From the perspective of Zoobiquity (pan-animal science), which advocates collaboration between human and veterinary medicine based on the fact that all of diseases between humans and animals are shared, we aim for further collaboration between human and veterinary medicine to lead to the improvement of the health of all species.
Blood, urine, and tissue samples from a wide variety of patients at the Hokkaido University Veterinary Medical Center, which is one of most renowned animal hospitals in Asia, as well as local veterinary hospitals and zoos have been collected to establish biobanks to provide the global scientific community with the biological samples in the future.
This way, the excellent results of basic research will lead to the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic methods/strategies. Conversely, we aim to develop "reverse translational research," in which important findings obtained from a veterinary clinical practice are utilized as seeds to promote basic research.


 

Translational drug development studies in the pet dog with cancer (as a example) are optimal for an integrated approach, being an intermediary between conventional preclinical models (mouse, research-bred dog and non-human primate) and the human clinical trial.
This integrated approach is expected to directly answer to important questions in human medicine as one of translational research.

 


In addition to classical translational research, veterinary medicine can be involved in different aspects of translational research. Not only can veterinary medicine itself serve as a bridge between medical research and basic research, but there is also translational research from basic to clinical research within veterinary medicine.

 

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