| Professionals |
|
IIAM Quick Links
 |
| The IIAM Journal |
| is the quarterly newsletter of the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine. |
| Download | Subscribe | Archive |
IIAM Interactive Features
|
|
|
|
|
|
Systems of the Human Body
in Research and Education
Virtually every organ and system of the human body is needed for research, and nearly every disease that plagues mankind is being studied with the help of donated human organs and tissues.
|
|
Adrenals
Used to study the influence of hormones on cardiovascular disease.
Bladder
For studies on the congenital defects of the kidney and urinary tract as a major cause of pediatric renal failure.
Brain
Research into Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and ALS require healthy and diseased human brain tissues to study the disease processes with the goal of allowing victims of these diseases to live longer and better lives, and ultimately preventing disease for future generations.
Colon
For studies of genetic markers, inflammatory diseases and central nervous system disorders.
Heart, Arteries and Veins
Medical investigators use the human heart to learn about the development of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. These and other blood vessels are used to find ways to control clot formation and high blood pressure. Ground-breaking research for bypass procedures is also underway.
Kidneys
Renal tissues is used to study the toxicity of anti-cancer therapies, for example, and to study the safe concentrations of other drugs in development.
Liver
The liver is responsible for most drug and chemical metabolism, and is the site of drug-drug interaction and toxicity. IIAM has been a leader in providing consented, whole, human livers to help researchers understand how human livers respond to various drugs, and to reduce researchers' reliance on animal testing.
Lung
Research into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, asthma, emphysema and allergies are advanced by the use of human lung tissues.
Musculoskeletal Tissues and Anatomical Specimens
Joints, large anatomical specimens, bone structures and soft tissues are used in surgical training programs and by those who develop new instruments and surgical accessories.
Pancreas
Diabetes researchers rely on pancreatic tissues to explore the regulation of insulin production, to identify the genetic components of the disease and for toxicity studies on new compounds. Transplantation of islet cells, the site of insulin production, is undergoing clinical trials with very promising results.
Spleen
As a prolific source of T-cells and B-cells, the human spleen is used by researchers to investigate AIDS and other autoimmune diseases and for tolerance studies.
Skin
Researchers examining human skin to study comparative rates of drug absorption have developed such novel approaches as transdermal or "patch" delivery, as well as topical applications, for a variety of drug types.
Stomach
Utilized in the study of gastro-esophageal reflux diseases (GERD), and to explore the side effects of new drugs for gastric disorders.
Thymus
For antibody studies on human T-cells.
Top^ |
