Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ launches innovation centre for One Medicine research
An open academic workplace for veterinary and human medicine researchers and clinicians
Each year, over 41 million people worldwide die from so-called non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological diseases, or musculoskeletal diseases. The need for research on more effective diagnostics and new treatment methods is more urgent than ever. Veterinary and human medicine researchers at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ's new Translational One Medicine Innovation Centre (UTOMIC) are working together to find solutions in areas such as personalised 3D printed implants.
UTOMIC is an open academic workplace where researchers and clinicians from the fields of veterinary and human medicine can closely collaborate on a range of projects. Inga Wolframm is Head of Partnerships and Fundraising at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and responsible for the day-to-day management of the new centre. 'UTOMIC offers veterinary researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and specialist medical researchers at various university hospitals (Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Centre, Groningen ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, Leiden ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and Radboud ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and VU ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Amsterdam) the opportunity to engage in unique collaborations. Researchers will also have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities at the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Animal Hospital, provided in collaboration with our civil society partners and commercial stakeholders.
Animal patients replace laboratory animals
The fight against non-communicable diseases is undoubtedly one of the greatest socio-economic challenges of the 21st century. Unfortunately, biomedical research on drugs and treatment methods for these diseases is still heavily reliant on animal testing, with as many as 115 million laboratory animals used worldwide every year. With the establishment of UTOMIC, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine aims to accelerate One Medicine research, help human and veterinary patients, and simultaneously reduce the need for laboratory animals in biomedical and veterinary research. After all, non-communicable diseases are also the most common cause of death in pets. The Faculty's veterinary researchers treat these animal patients on a daily basis at the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Animal Hospital and are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their health and welfare. As they carefully observe and treat their patients, the researchers and clinicians gain important insights that ultimately yield better diagnostics and more effective treatments for both veterinary and human patients while reducing the use of laboratory animals.
One Medicine research can accelerate human and veterinary medicine innovation in several ways
Accelerating One Medicine research
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will be further integrating its One Medicine research with human and animal health care at UTOMIC over the coming years. Human beings and companion animals share many similarities when it comes to spontaneously occurring diseases and disorders. These parallels can play a crucial role in translational research. After all, the treatment of animal patients can serve as a scientifically reliable transition between pre-clinical research and clinical applications while eliminating the need for laboratory animals such as rats and mice. The treatment of pets with chronic diseases and opportunity to learn from their response to new treatment strategies also offers several other advantages over the use of laboratory animals. Animals aren't covered by privacy laws, making it easier to obtain tissue or data than would be the case with human patients. Naturally, this is all subject to the owner's consent. Some diseases or conditions are also much more common in veterinary patients than in humans. Examples include certain types of cancer (pheochromocytoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma) and endocrine disorders (such as Cushing's disease, caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland). This allows for broader and more rapid data collection. Finally, euthanasia is now often the only option for pets with incurable diseases. Experimental treatments for these animal patients – provided they have been proven safe in the preclinical phase – can be an important step in developing effective research applications for the medical practice. One Medicine research can accelerate human and veterinary medicine innovation in several ways.
SPECT/CT scanner UMC Groningen
UTOMIC is being equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment thanks to the financial support of academic partners, private sector partners and equity funds. The ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Veterinary Hospital recently acquired a SPECT/CT scanner that will allow for even more precise imaging. The Symbia SPECT/CT scanner was donated by the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and delivered and installed by Siemens Healthineers. , professor and head of the UMCG department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, explains why the UMCG is happy to contribute. 'The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is a unique organisation in the Netherlands with a unique approach. The One Medicine concept is important for several reasons. Donating our SPECT/CT to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will lend the unit a new lease on life while contributing to circularity. We're glad to support the field of veterinary nuclear medicine and open up new possibilities for researchers. Sharing knowledge on nuclear research and care for human and veterinary patients will also encourage cross-pollination between our two fields. Animal patients can play an important role as 'natural animal models'. This will allow us to help veterinary patients while speeding up the development of human care applications.'
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UTOMIC receives financial support from the following foundations: Abri voor Dieren, Bouwstenen voor Dierenwelzijn, DierenLot, D.O.G., Dr. C.J. Vaillant Fonds, Het Waardige Dier, Triodos Foundation, Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Fund.