Scientists wishing to understand the genetic basis for disease and illness are generating new animal models with great rapidity. Models being used in neuroscience research include those with targeted mutations for:

• Epilepsy
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Schizophrenia
• Parkinson's disease
• Huntington's Disease
• Depression

The models are developed by scientists whose expertise is usually in a specific area (eg molecular biology), but with the specific aim of gaining insights into a disease process. However, to fully exploit their model and to document its phenotypic effect, they will require access to a range of technologies.

This is where the INF can help.

The INF was established to provide a comprehensive animal phenotyping service to the scientific community in Australia. The INF provides behavioural, anatomical, physiological and pharmacological assessments of animal models for neurobiological and psychological research and pre-clinical drug testing for industry.