Exploring Unique Animal Models for Neurological and Cancer Research
A Step-by-Step Guide with LLM Prompts Included
Jeya Chelliah, B.VSc., Ph.D
Many human diseases—especially in neurology and oncology—cannot be fully
recapitulated in traditional animal models like mice. Breakthroughs often depend on
discovering animals with unique physiological traits that either mimic human disease or
naturally resist it.
Yet these models are often overlooked due to:
– Lack of visibility in mainstream literature
– Limited familiarity among researchers
– Uncertainty about experimental adaptation
LLMs can serve as intelligent research assistants, capable of surfacing rare models,
generating new hypotheses, and guiding experimental adaptation.
Step 1: Define the Disease Features You Want to Model
Begin by specifying the key features of your target disease. This could be:
– Cellular processes (e.g., apoptosis, axon degeneration)
– Tissue-level dysfunction (e.g., brain inflammation, tumor hypoxia)
– Systemic features (e.g., immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming)
Sample LLM Prompt:
I’m studying glioblastoma. What are the most important cellular and molecular features that
define its progression and resistance to therapy?
Step 2: Ask the LLM to Suggest Animal Species with Matching Features
Use the LLM to map disease traits to animal species that exhibit them naturally—even if
they’ve never been used as models before.
Sample LLM Prompt:
List animal species that naturally show resistance to hypoxia, spontaneous tumor
regression, or unusual regenerative capabilities in the nervous system.
Example Matches:
– Naked mole rat (hypoxia resistance)
– Blind mole rat (spontaneous tumor necrosis)
– Axolotl (central nervous system regeneration)
– Zebrafish (brain transparency)
– Electric fish (neural synchronization)
Step 3: Evaluate Suitability and Practical Feasibility
Use the LLM to compare and evaluate candidate models in terms of:
– Biological relevance
– Availability of genetic tools
– Ease of handling and housing
– Compatibility with your experimental goals
Sample LLM Prompt:
Compare zebrafish and axolotls as animal models for studying neuroregeneration. Include
pros, cons, genetic tools, and experimental readouts.
Step 4: Design an Adaptation Experiment
Use the LLM to help you design your custom experimental model using the chosen species.
Sample LLM Prompt:
Design an experimental setup using naked mole rats to study immune-mediated tumor
clearance. Include method of tumor induction, immune monitoring, and expected outcomes.
Step 5: Translate Findings Back to Human Biology
Use the LLM to brainstorm how discoveries in this novel animal model can be:
– Validated in human tissue or organoid models
– Used to identify biomarkers
– Incorporated into preclinical pipelines
Sample LLM Prompt:
How can findings from blind mole rat immune-mediated tumor clearance be translated into
human cancer therapy strategies?
Bonus Prompts to Expand Your Thinking
Exploration Goals and Sample Prompts:
– Regenerative biology: “Which animals naturally regenerate their central nervous system
after injury?”
– Tumor suppression: “Which animals show spontaneous tumor resistance, and what are
the underlying mechanisms?”
– Brain electric fields: “What species are used to study electrical brain synchronization, and
how?”
– Evolutionary oncology: “Which species have evolved cancer resistance through unique
immune mechanisms?”
LLMs open the door to next-generation animal model discovery by:
– Scanning across biology, evolution, and physiology
– Generating links between human disease and animal adaptations
– Helping you design original experiments with higher translational value
Instead of asking, “What mouse strain should I use?”—LLMs invite you to ask:
“What species on Earth already solved this problem—and how can I learn from it?”