This one-stop reference is the first to present the complete picture -- covering all relevant organisms, from single cells to mammals, as well as all major disease areas, including neurological disorders, cancer and infectious diseases.
Addressing the needs of the pharmaceutical industry, this unique handbook adopts a broad perspective on the use of animals in the early part of the drug development process, including regulatory rules and limitations, as well as numerous examples from real-life drug development projects.
After a general introduction to the topic, the expert contributors from research-driven pharmaceutical companies discuss the basic considerations of using animal models, including ethical issues. The main part of the book systematically surveys the most important disease areas for current drug development, from cardiovascular to endocrine disorders, and from infectious to neurological diseases. For each area, the availability of animal models for target validation, hit finding and lead profiling is reviewed, backed by numerous examples of both successes and failures among the use of animal models. The whole is rounded off with a discussion of perspectives and challenges.
Key knowledge for drug researchers in industry as well as academia.

Jose Miguel Vela obtained his PhD at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He was working as a faculty member engaged in both teaching and research at the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology of the UAB. In 2003 he joined ESTEVE R&D as Head of Target Validation, was then Director of Pharmacology, and currently is the Head of Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development. Starting as a neurobiologist he progressed as a neuropharmacologist. His current research is focused on the discovery and development of new analgetics. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 80 patent applications.
Rafael Maldonado is Professor of Pharmacology at the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona (Spain), where he founded the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology. His research is focused on the study of the neurochemical basis of drug dependence and related disorders, including affective, pain and eating disorders, with a particular focus on the development of novel behavioral models. He has published over 250 scientific articles in international journals and he has been Principal Investigator for 20 years of research grants funded by the main French, Spanish, European, and USA agencies. He is also member of the editorial board of several scientific journals, and has also collaborated with public authorities and private companies in the research policy and pharmaceuticals development on drug abuse and pain.
Michel Hamon is Professor of Neuropharmacology at the University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris (France). He founded and led a Neuropsychopharmacology Unit of the French Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) at the Faculty of Medicine Pitié-Salpetriere, with the focus on neurobiological mechanisms underlying key brain functions (nociception, sleep, neurovegetative regulations) and behavioral controls by using validated animal models. He has published more than 600 scientific articles, and was president of the French Society for Neuroscience.