Scientists give thanks to lab friends 动物模型：疫情防控的另一条战线
Nearly 30 species of animals are used for research purposes in fields such as biology, medicine and pharmaceuticals in China, making the country one of the important breeders and users of laboratory animals in the world.
Laboratory animal studies began in the country in the 1980s. In medicine, the use of lab animals is seen as a pathway to finding cures for human diseases. An animal's response to a disease similar to one that affects humans is used in the lab to establish an animal model of the disease, a process described as the "artificial patient" approach, and it contributes to medical research of the disease.
According to professor Qin Chuan, director of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences' Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences in Beijing, animal models are vital to the continued progress of medicine, as well as vaccine research and development, especially at a time when the world is fighting a pandemic.
Animal models have played a very important role in drug research, as potential new drugs and diagnosis techniques must first undergo safety and effectiveness testing on animal models before they can be used on humans, Qin said. "Soon after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, we established the world's first animal model to simulate SARS-CoV-2 infection and pneumonia, and thus broke the bottleneck in basic research and vaccine development for COVID-19," she said.
Every year, the institute organizes a ceremony to offer thanks to its lab animals. It is an opportunity for scientists to express their gratitude to the animals for their sacrifices in the name of human health. China has strict laws and procedures to protect the welfare of research animals, and is making great efforts to develop alternative methods to animal experimentation.
我国常用实验动物有30余个品种，应用于生物学、医学和药学等领域研究，使中国成为最重要实验动物生产和使用的国家之一。
我们国家的动物模型研究历史始于20世纪80年代。在医学领域，使用实验动物被视为治愈人类疾病的一种途径。人类疾病的动物模型是指在实验室中建立的具有人类疾病模拟表现的动物实验对象，简单的理解是让动物得人的病，然后观察染病动物的反应，这个过程被称为“人工病人”的方法，有助于疾病的医学研究。
中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所所长秦川教授表示，动物模型对医学的持续进步以及疫苗研发至关重要，尤其是当前全球抗击传染病大流行的时候。
秦川表示，动物模型在药物研究中发挥了非常重要的作用，因为潜在的新药和诊疗技术必须首先在动物模型上验证其安全性和有效性，才能应用于人体。她说：“新冠肺炎疫情暴发后不久，我们建立了世界上第一个模拟SARS-CoV-2感染的动物模型，突破了新冠肺炎基础研究和疫苗研发的关键技术瓶颈。” 每年，该研究所都会组织一场仪式感谢实验室里的动物。这是科学家们向为人类健康事业做出牺牲的实验动物们表示感谢。中国有严格的法律和程序确保实验动物的福利，并正在努力开发替代动物实验的方法。
Technician Teng Qingfeng holds a ferret at a cultivation base of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences in Beijing on Aug 13.
8月13日，在中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所动物实验基地，技术人员滕庆峰抱着雪貂留影。
Two researchers collect an anesthetized rhesus monkey's blood samples on Aug 25.
8月25日，在中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所动物实验基地，两位科研人员采集一只被麻醉的恒河猴血样。
Zhang Ling, a researcher at the institute, uses a microscope to observe animal specimens on Aug 13.
8月13日，中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所病理平台主任张玲通过显微镜查看动物病理标本。
A researcher prepares to dissect an animal's brain for a pathological experiment on Aug 13.
8月13日，在中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所，科研人员准备切除一种动物大脑做病理研究。
Researcher Gao Kai prepares to give a CT scan to a rat on Aug 30.
8月30日，中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所影像分析平台主任高凯在准备为大鼠做CT扫描。
Qin Chuan (left on second row) and employees of the institute attend a ceremony to offer thanks to laboratory animals on Aug 30.
8月30日， 中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所所长秦川（后左一）和研究所的工作人员参加感谢实验动物的仪式。
Animal keepers work at a breeding room for mice at the cultivation base on Aug 13.
8月13日，动物饲养员在研究所动物实验基地的无菌鼠生产车间工作。
A researcher walks by cases containing some laboratory animal specimens on Aug 13.
8月13日，在中国医学科学院医学实验动物研究所，一名研究人员经过装有实验动物标本的展示区。
