Linking Animal Models to Human Disease

NCRR Supports Comprehensive Online Tool to Connect Researchers to Critical Resources

New Web Site and Database Will Integrate Data and Information About Animal Models

January 28, 2009 — Scientists who work with animal models can look forward to a new online tool designed to increase research efficiency, improve collaboration and ultimately help bridge the gap between basic science and human medicine. With funding from NCRR, the Linking Animal Models to Human Disease Initiative (LAMHDI) will integrate data and information about animal models and make them available to health researchers. LAMHDI creators will develop a database and website designed to make it easier for the biomedical research community to locate, identify, apply and build upon the most useful animal models for their research.

"LAMHDI will give biomedical researchers worldwide access to a simple, yet comprehensive Web-based resource that will enable scientists to quickly find the best animal models for their research studies," said Harold Watson, Ph.D., LAMHDI project officer, NCRR Division of Comparative Medicine. "Critical tools such as these can help accelerate the research process, ultimately leading us to faster treatments."

The initiative grew out of the Animal Models: Informatics and Access meeting in August 2008. At this meeting, animal research and informatics experts explored ways to remove research barriers and to develop frameworks for effective computation on existing animal models data to facilitate medical progress.

The $1.57 million NCRR-funded project will be supported by a contract to Turner Consulting Group, a strategy and IT firm.

Contact Information

Harold L. Watson, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Division of Comparative Medicine
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health
One Democracy Plaza
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4874 (20817 for express mail)
Telephone: 301-435-0744
Fax: 301-480-3819
E-mail: Harold.Watson