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Who works with laboratory animals?
- Principal Investigators
Principal investigators have many duties
Principal investigator Angela Cenci-Nilsson´s group at the University of Lund is studying Parkinson´s disease. The group conducts experiments on mice and rats to study the side effects of drugs used to treat the disease.
“For us, there´s no alternative to animal research. We cannot exchange mice for computer simulations; the brain is too complex for that," she says.
Parkinson´s disease is one of our most common neurological diseases, and results from a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. The disease makes it difficult for those affected to control their movements. L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine, is the most common medication.
Unfortunately, L-DOPA has some side effects, e.g. involuntary movements.
“The goal of our work is to examine the effects of Parkinson´s medications on the brain. Hopefully our research can lead to new treatment methods," says Angela Cenci-Nilsson.
One step in the research to investigate the causes of side effects involves tests on mice and rats. They start by giving the animal subject a cytotoxin that kills the dopamine-producing cells in the brain. After several weeks, the animal is treated with L-DOPA. Researchers study how the animal´s behaviour changes during medication. After 3 weeks of treatment the animal is put to death and several specimens are collected.
“We have seen that some genes and proteins in the brain are overactive when the animal reacts to L-DOPA through involuntary movements. We do yet know exactly what causes this, but we are investigating it."
Angela Cenci-Nilsson´s research group consists of eight individuals; one laboratory technician and the others are researchers and research students. The group meets once per week to discuss problems that arise and to update each other about how their projects are progressing.
As principal investigator, Angela Cenci-Nilsson has many duties. She is the one who applies for grants and submits applications to the Ethical Committee on Animal Experiments. She is also responsible for administration and dissemination of information within the group.
“As principal investigator it´s important to support others in the research group. I try to be well-read so I can offer viewpoints, ideas, and comments to help them move forward. The findings are never simple enough to be interpreted in just one way. Together with the researcher we discuss how to interpret the results and plan follow-up experiments,“ she says.
Angela Cenci-Nilsson came toSwedenfrom Italy in the late 1980s. She wanted to learn more about how the brain functions and became interested in Parkinson´s disease. She does not view animal research as an end in itself, and she emphasises that the animals should suffer as little as possible. She would like to use other methods, but sees no opportunities for that today.
“We try to understand how the brain directs movement and what goes wrong with the system in Parkinson´s disease. Our research has led to many unexpected results thanks to animal research. These results would have been impossible to foresee from computer simulations."
Parkinson´s disease is one of our most common neurological diseases, and results from a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. The disease makes it difficult for those affected to control their movements. L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine, is the most common medication.
Unfortunately, L-DOPA has some side effects, e.g. involuntary movements.
“The goal of our work is to examine the effects of Parkinson´s medications on the brain. Hopefully our research can lead to new treatment methods," says Angela Cenci-Nilsson.
Changed behaviour
One step in the research to investigate the causes of side effects involves tests on mice and rats. They start by giving the animal subject a cytotoxin that kills the dopamine-producing cells in the brain. After several weeks, the animal is treated with L-DOPA. Researchers study how the animal´s behaviour changes during medication. After 3 weeks of treatment the animal is put to death and several specimens are collected.
“We have seen that some genes and proteins in the brain are overactive when the animal reacts to L-DOPA through involuntary movements. We do yet know exactly what causes this, but we are investigating it."
Coordinates the group
Angela Cenci-Nilsson´s research group consists of eight individuals; one laboratory technician and the others are researchers and research students. The group meets once per week to discuss problems that arise and to update each other about how their projects are progressing.
As principal investigator, Angela Cenci-Nilsson has many duties. She is the one who applies for grants and submits applications to the Ethical Committee on Animal Experiments. She is also responsible for administration and dissemination of information within the group.
“As principal investigator it´s important to support others in the research group. I try to be well-read so I can offer viewpoints, ideas, and comments to help them move forward. The findings are never simple enough to be interpreted in just one way. Together with the researcher we discuss how to interpret the results and plan follow-up experiments,“ she says.
Animal research not a goal in itself
Angela Cenci-Nilsson came toSwedenfrom Italy in the late 1980s. She wanted to learn more about how the brain functions and became interested in Parkinson´s disease. She does not view animal research as an end in itself, and she emphasises that the animals should suffer as little as possible. She would like to use other methods, but sees no opportunities for that today.
“We try to understand how the brain directs movement and what goes wrong with the system in Parkinson´s disease. Our research has led to many unexpected results thanks to animal research. These results would have been impossible to foresee from computer simulations."
Text: Karl-Johan Börjesson
Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.
