Welcome to the KentConnects blog, where we provide tips, best practices, examples, and more helpful information to improve your processes, boost your efficiency, and make your lab work smarter and safer.
Can we artificially regenerate things we’ve lost, like hearing, bone, brain function, or even memories? Several new studies have revealed different repair and regeneration mechanisms in mice, sparking hope that these findings might pave the way for humans to recover things they’ve lost.
The brain continues to be one of the richest areas of preclinical research, with experiments with mice helping researchers uncover a wide range of new insights into the intricate workings of the brain. From mapping the cell types in the mouse brain to developing virtual reality (VR) goggles for mice and exploring the neurobiological processes behind daydreaming, these advancements are reshaping our understanding of neural mechanisms and helping researchers unravel the secrets of the brain.
Paralysis and spinal injuries have long been among the most challenging and devastating conditions for patients and healthcare providers. However, recent preclinical research offers potential breakthroughs in the field of spinal injury treatment and paralysis management.
While much animal research is devoted to understanding bodily functions and finding treatments and cures for serious diseases and conditions, sometimes the target is a more everyday concern. Recent mouse studies have shed new light on hair loss and may point to possible treatments.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 39 million people worldwide were living with HIV as of 2022, and there were 1.3 million new infections in 2022 alone.
Sugar is known to cause a number of health problems in humans, and sugar substitutes may be no better. In May 2023, the World Health Organization issued new guidance discouraging the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), citing the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence, which suggests using NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children and may lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults. New studies continue to confirm these findings, uncovering troubling new issues with all types of sweeteners.
Addiction is a complex condition with both physical and psychological causes and effects, which, coupled with the wide variation in addictive substances, makes it difficult to treat effectively. New research with mice and rats has uncovered potential new treatments that effectively reduce addictive behavior with no side effects.
May is Mental Health Month, and researchers around the world are contributing to the effort to identify causes and develop treatments for mental health issues including anorexia, depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD.
What causes disease? The answers are manifold, but recent mouse studies point to a new culprit in certain diseases: bacteria.
Historically, researchers working with mice have preferred to use animals with as few genetic variations as possible. However, new studies show that a more diverse mouse population leads to more reliable results.