Childhood Leukemia:  According to the American Cancer Society, leukemia  accounts for about 31.5 percent of cancer cases in children between the  ages of 0-14. Approximately 2,700 children are diagnosed annually with  leukemia in the U.S. Cancer is the chief cause of death by disease in  children between the ages of 1-14.  An estimated 1,500 children die annually from cancer. In 1950, nearly  every child died within six months of a leukemia diagnosis.  Mortality rates have declined more than 50 percent since 1973. Animal  models made possible the development of the early forms of chemotherapy  and radiation treatment, as well as bone marrow transplants, which have  now been performed more than 10,000 times worldwide.

Vaccines:  The list of life-saving vaccines developed in animals models includes:

• Cholera

• Influenza

• Plague

• Tetanus

• Pneumococcal Pneumonia

• Diphtheria

• Measles

• Polio

• Typhoid

• Hepatitis B

• Meningoccal Meningitis

• Rabies

• Yellow Fever

Animal Models for Human Disease:  In the last 20 years, there have been  major advances in animal modeling for diseases that afflict humans. These  animal models allow scientists to better understand a particular disease,  and then design specific therapies to treat it.  Among the diseases for which animal models exist are cystic fibrosis,  heart disease, polio, AIDS, retinitis pigmentosa, rheumatoid arthritis,  lupus, diabetes, obesity, severe combined immune deficiency syndrome  (SCIDS), and many other types of cancer.

Heart Disease:  For patients with severe heart disease, surgery is the only  life-saving option. Until the 20th century, successful heart surgery was  unthinkable because it was not possible to see inside or operate on a pumping heart.    After decades of work on animal models, researchers developed the  heart-lung machine, which permits surgeons to maintain blood circulation  while they operate on the heart itself. Since its development 40 years  ago, thousands of human hearts have been repaired and lives saved.

Drug Development:  Based on research animal models, the following therapies  and agents have been developed: 

• Penincillin and other Antibiotics

• Cyclosporin and other anti-rejection drugs 

• Monoclonial Antibodies

• Oral contraceptive.

• Insulin        

• Fluoride       

• Anticoagulants 

• Surgical and other Procedures and Devices: Without animal research, the  following would not have been possible:

  • Pacemakers     

  •  Angioplasty    

  • Organ Transplantation

  • Cornea Transplantation

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation

  • Skin Transplant