Integrative Mammalian Biology Initiative

Integrative mammalian biology is the study of how the body functions at a whole animal level and is central to development of new therapeutic approaches to human and animal diseases.

A partnership between biomedical scientists at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde has attracted £3m in funding from the BBSRC, BPS, HEFCE, KTN, MRC and SFC to build capacity and support leading integrative mammalian biology teaching and research.

In the last decade, biology has focused on individual genes and the properties of the proteins that these genes encode. Approaches using isolated tissues have also been powerful, but tend to have taken the system under study away from the physiological context in which it normally operates.

While advances in molecular and genetic research are providing unprecedented opportunities to study molecular, genetic and environmental influences on health, expertise in the appropriate application of these tools to understand function in complex mammalian systems with respect to physiology, pharmacology, toxicology and behaviour is lacking. The need to build and consolidate best practice in interactive mammalian biology teaching and research in the UK has been recognized and supported by a wide range of bodies including the Higher education funding and research councils, the pharmaceutical industry and professional societies.

Building capacity in Integrative biology will allow the translation of knowledge gained from single molecules back to the whole organism, including in vivo studies. Such experimental approaches must be carried out within a framework of ethical best practice to maximise the scientific information gained. This requires a high degree of training in experimental approaches and design, informed consideration of the  ethics of the research and the appropriate application of replacement, reduction and refinement, and skilful use of up-to-date in vivo techniques. Biomedical scientists within Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities are working together to ensure that leading edge research in Integrative mammalian biology is carried out and that this expertise is passed on to future generations of scientists.

The current award will be used to support research and teaching in the areas of cardiovascular, neuroscience and immunology.

For more information please visit the IMB website.