Cellular models for fundamental and applied biomedical research

Abstract

Cell culture models play an important role in biomedical

research and will continue to do so given the growing opposition to

vivisection and the limited predictive value of animal models for human

disease. Moreover, cell culture models can be easily established to mimic physiological or pathological processes, which is difficult to accomplish using in silico models. While non-cellular in vitro models are highly suitable for studying simple biochemical processes, cell culture models recapitulate many of the complex regulatory circuits governing protein activity in vivo and hence allow investigation of diverse physiological processes. Also, cell culture models offer the possibility to address fundamental research questions in a much more simplified, specific and controllable manner than can be achieved using in vivo models.