Future of biomedical, agricultural and biological systems research using domesticated animals

Authors: SPENCER, THOMAS - University Of Missouri; WELLS, KEVIN - University Of Missouri; LEE, KIHO - University Of Missouri; TELUGU, BHANU - University Of Missouri; HANSEN, PETER - University Of Florida; BARTOL, FRANK - Auburn University; Blomberg, Le Ann; SCHOOK, LAWRENCE - University Of Illinois; Dawson, Harry; Lunney, Joan; DRIVER, JOHN - University Of Florida; DAVIS, TERESA - Baylor College Of Medicine; DONOVAN, SHARON - University Of Illinois; DILGER, RYAN - University Of Illinois; SAIF, LINDA - The Ohio State University; MOESER, ADAM - Michigan State University; MCGILL, JODI - Iowa State University; SMITH, GEORGE - Michigan State University; IRELAND, JAMES - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Biology of Reproduction
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2022
Publication Date: 1/29/2022
Citation: Spencer, T.E., Wells, K.D., Lee, K., Telugu, B.P., Hansen, P.J., Bartol, F.F., Blomberg, L., Schook, L.B., Dawson, H.D., Lunney, J.K., Driver, J.P., Davis, T.A., Donovan, S.M., Dilger, R.N., Saif, L.J., Moeser, A., McGill, J.L., Smith, G., Ireland, J.J. 2022. Future of biomedical, agricultural and biological systems research using domesticated animals. Biology of Reproduction. 106(4):629-638. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioac019.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioac019

Interpretive Summary: Starting in 2010, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) established an interagency “Dual Purpose” partnership to promote the use of agriculturally important animal species in basic and translational research relevant to both biomedicine and agriculture. This article reviews the successes of the past interagency Dual Purpose efforts and highlights key advantages of farm animal models for simultaneously addressing biomedical and agricultural challenges. This report ends by highlighting opportunities for future interagency partnerships and grant programs among NIH, NSF and USDA utilizing domesticated agricultural animals in research.

Technical Abstract: Increased knowledge of reproduction and health of domesticated animals is integral to sustain and improve global competitiveness of U.S. animal agriculture, understand and resolve complex animal and human diseases, and advance fundamental research in sciences that are critical to understanding mechanisms of action and identifying future targets for interventions. Historically, federal and state budgets have dwindled and funding for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grants programs remained relatively stagnant from 1985 through 2010. This shortage in critical financial support for basic and applied research, coupled with the underappreciated knowledge of the utility of non-rodent species for biomedical research, hindered funding opportunities for research involving livestock and limited improvements in both animal agriculture and animal and human health. In 2010, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) established an interagency partnership to promote the use of agriculturally important animal species in basic and translational research relevant to both biomedicine and agriculture. This article will review the successes of the nine year Dual Purpose effort and highlight opportunities for utilizing domesticated agricultural animals in research.