The Importance of Animal Models in Biomedical Research: Current Insights and Applications

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The present review highlights and examines the importance of animal models in relevant topics concerning current human and animal health. Over the past five years, different animal species have been used to study pandemics, such as the 2019 Coronavirus, diabetes, and obesity. Through murine, primate, porcine, and even aquatic models (e.g., zebrafish), several neurological, behavioral, cardiovascular, and oncological disorders are being understood while developing new therapeutic approaches. Nematodes and arthropods are some of the new alternatives for biomedical science; however, regardless of the species, many animal research studies show the vital role of animal models in advancing biomedical research. ABSTRACT: Animal research is considered a key element in advance of biomedical science. Although its use is controversial and raises ethical challenges, the contribution of animal models in medicine is essential for understanding the physiopathology and novel treatment alternatives for several animal and human diseases. Current pandemics’ pathology, such as the 2019 Coronavirus disease, has been studied in primate, rodent, and porcine models to recognize infection routes and develop therapeutic protocols. Worldwide issues such as diabetes, obesity, neurological disorders, pain, rehabilitation medicine, and surgical techniques require studying the process in different animal species before testing them on humans. Due to their relevance, this article aims to discuss the importance of animal models in diverse lines of biomedical research by analyzing the contributions of the various species utilized in science over the past five years about key topics concerning human and animal health.