Meeting Report: Can We Make Animal Models of Human Mental Illness?

Lisa M Monteggia, Hakon Heimer, Eric J. Nestler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Modeling aspects of the human condition in animals has provided invaluable information on the physiology of all organ systems and has assisted in the development of virtually all new therapeutics. Research in cardiovascular disease, cancer, immunology, and other disciplines has benefited substantially from the availability of animal models that capture aspects of specific human diseases and that have been used effectively to advance new treatments. By comparison, animal models for neurological and psychiatric disorders have faced several unique obstacles. This paper highlights topics covered in a recent Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting charged with examining the status of animal models for mental illness. The consensus of the conference is that despite the difficulties inherent with modeling brain disorders in animals, when used judiciously—fully cognizant that models of specific behavioral or biological aspects cannot completely recapitulate the human disorder—animal research is crucial for advancing our understanding of neuropsychiatric disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)542-545
Number of pages4
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume84
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2018

Keywords

  • CRISPR
  • Neurological disorders
  • Nonhuman primates
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Rodents
  • iPSCs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biological Psychiatry

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