PG4 Experimental models for respiratory medicine: strengths and limitations

Postgraduate Course
Chairs: K. Bracke (Laarne, Belgium), J.H.J. Vernooy (Maastricht, Netherlands)
Aims: This course will give an overview of important in vivo experimental models in rodents and newer evolutions that directly mimic COPD, acute lung injury, idiopatic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, or specific pathophysiological aspects of these diseases. The strengths and limitations of the animal models, if compared to human disease, will also be discussed.
The main learning objectives are as follows.
1. To explain the strengths of the models by showing how they have provided a new basis for the understanding of disease or a therapeutic approach.
2. To point out limitations in the models due to differences compared to the human diseases.
3. To consider the strengths and limitations of the models compared to clinical studies of patients with these diseases.


HERMES module links: ADULT A.1 Structure and function of the respiratory system, B.1 Airway diseases, B.3 Non-TB respiratory infections, B.7 Diffuse parenchymal (interstitial) lung diseases, F. Core generic abilities, I. Further areas relevant to respiratory medicine.

Cigarette smoke in mice, rats and guinea pigs: value to study pathogenesis of COPD G. Brusselle (Ghent, Belgium)
Modelling acute lung injury: infections versus bacterial components A. De Vos (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Modelling pulmonary fibrosis G. Laurent (London, United Kingdom)
Models of asthma in rodents: similarities and differences compared to patient asthma S. Shore (Boston, United States of America)