title: Models for preclinical studies in aging-related disorders: One is not for all.
abstract: Preclinical studies are essentially based on animal models of a particular disease. The primary purpose of preclinical efficacy studies is to support generalization of treatment-effect relationships to human subjects. Researchers aim to demonstrate a causal relationship between an investigational agent and a disease-related phenotype in such models. Numerous factors can muddle reliable inferences about such cause-effect relationships, including biased outcome assessment due to experimenter expectations. For instance, responses in a particular inbred mouse might be specific to the strain, limiting generalizability. Selecting well-justified and widely acknowledged model systems represents the best start in designing preclinical studies, especially to overcome any potential bias related to the model itself. This is particularly true in the research that focuses on aging, which carries unique challenges, mainly attributable to the fact that our already long lifespan makes designing experiments that use people as subjects extremely difficult and largely impractical.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center; College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, USA;
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Valencia /INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain;
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borras
authors.affiliation: MACVIA-LR, European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Reference Site, University Hospital of Montpellier, France;; INSERM, VIMA : Ageing and chronic diseases. Epidemiological and public health approaches, Paris, France; Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France;
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR) University of Bologna;
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calzà
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia/INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain;
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, and R&D Unit, Federico II University Hospital;
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Illario
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna;; National Research Council of Italy, CNR, Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF) and Institute of Molecular Genetics, Bologna, Italy;; Dept. of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma; University Hospital of Parma.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, Ireland;
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, and R&D Unit, Federico II University Hospital;
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montuori
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, Ireland;; Health Research Board, Clinical Research Facility Galway, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland;
authors.forename: Rónán
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Caoimh
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), Barcelona, Spain;
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orfila
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Quimica e Bioquímica, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal;
authors.forename: Amelia P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rauter
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iaccarino
keywords: aging; animal models; cardiovascular medicine; frailty; multimorbidity; preclinical studies; rodents; swine