Advancing disease research with zebrafish models

Welcome to the LSI Zebrafish Hub - a central resource hub for interest groups in zebrafish within Exeter university and beyond. This hub is designed to be publicly accessible and act as a resource hub for Zebrafish related information, events, and opportunities.

Understanding biological processes in health and disease necessitates animal models to capture the interactions between cells, tissues, and organs. While “cells-in-a-dish” studies offer initial insights, they lack the complete physiological context, making animal models essential for observing disease progression, treatment effects, and inter-system communication to achieve a comprehensive understanding of biological processes.

In the LSI, we utilise the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an excellent model for biomedical research due to its small size, cost-effectiveness, and high offspring production, which facilitates large-scale experiments. Its transparent, externally developing larvae allow for real-time observation of development and disease without invasive procedures, simplifying genetic manipulation and imaging. Furthermore, the significant genetic and physiological similarities between humans and zebrafish make the findings highly relevant, while their rapid development accelerates discovery.