Overview
The Institute of Model Animal (IMA) at Wuhan University strives to be a leader in novel model animal development for the purpose of exploring the fundamental mechanisms of major human diseases, discovering therapeutic targets, and developing new diagnosis and treatments. The major focus areas in our current research portfolio include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NFLD) and related liver metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. A central mission of IMA is to promote translation and commercialization of biomedical discoveries and innovations, to meet most challenging unmet clinic needs and to improve human health. IMA has established itself as an internationally recognized center of excellence in both basic research and translational applications. Fifteen research platforms have been developed, including AI-based medical health data, systems biology research, genome editing, animal model development, animal management, animal biosafety, level-3 laboratory, pathology core, cell biology core, molecular biology core, biological reagent R&D, biotechnology innovation, medication and biomaterial, veterinary and quality testing, instrument management, and repository libraries. They function in synergy to facilitate research projects at IMA. The institute currently owns more than 3,000 strains of genetically modified animals. Since its inception, it has provided model animal-related services and important technology support to more than 1000 domestic/international research institutions and pharmaceutical research and development agencies. IMA is operated under the most advanced management practice adopted from the world's top research institutions, and has a high-quality professional research team. As of March 2019, there are more than 250 researchers in the institute, from Renmin Hospital, Zhongnan Hospital, School of Basic Medical Science, Center for Animal Experiment, and other institutes affiliated to Wuhan University, including 7 professors, more than 40 assistant investigators and postdoctoral associates, over 40 graduate students and more than 100 professional staffs.
The director of the institute Hongliang Li, MD, Ph.D., is a professor of medicine at Wuhan University. He is the "National Distinguished Young Scholar", "Young Scientific and Technological Innovation Leading Talent" and "Ten Thousand Talent Program Leading Talent". Dr. Li currently serves as Dean of School of Basic Medical Science, Director of Institute of Model Animal, and Acting Director of Cardiovascular Research Institute at Wuhan University. After obtaining his PhD degree in 2005 from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, he pursued his post-doctoral trainings from 2006 to 2009 in Joslin Diabetes Center of Harvard Medical School, and in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Toronto. Currently, Dr. Li’s research programs focus on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Li has made seminal contribution to the development of biotechnologies for genome manipulation, phenotypic characterization, and identification of genetic basis of complex human diseases. Dr. Li has published more than 160 peer reviewed papers in prestigious journals including Nature Medicine, Physiological Review, Circulation, Hepatology, J Hepatology., Nature Communication, PNAS, Cell Death and Differentiation, Cell Research, Circulation Research, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Research, and Hypertension. Dr. Li is an inventor for more than 150 patents filed. His research is funded by numerous major peer-reviewed grants, including over 30 research grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China and Hubei Provincial Science Technology. Dr. Li is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the First Price for Progress in Science and Technology of Hubei Province, “Tan Jiazhen” Prize for Life Science Innovation Award，and “WuXiAppTec” Research Award in Chemistry of Life.
During the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, the Center will renew its commitment to its original mission with relentless efforts in innovation and excellence, and with more emphasis on sustainability, openness and sharing. We will stride to remain at the forefront of discovery and translation while tackling the most challenging human diseases. We will leverage our strengths in scientific research and technological platforms to build a high-level team of talents, and to further improve and development high-performance technological platforms such as translational medicine platform, animal model platform, and animal service platform, etc. Our goal is to consolidate our past achievements with the improved services, and to make the Center an internationally recognized leader in biomedical research and animal services.
