# Large Animal Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $74,729

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY - LARGE ANIMAL MODELS CORE
The Large Animal Models Core was developed at the time of the last competing renewal to address the
concern that in vitro cell culture systems and small animal models have not always translated well to solving
human health digestive disease problems. The core was designed to provide models more physiologically
similar to people. Over the past 5-years, the CGIBD has developed and strengthened a Large Animal Models
Core at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine focused on medical and surgical technologies
in pigs. The overall goal of the core is to provide a cost-effective central resource for Center investigators
wishing to understand mechanisms of digestive disease using large animals. This has been particularly
successful for CGIBD members interested in esophageal disease, in large part because the pig has proven to
be an excellent translational model of diseases such as eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux
disease. The pig esophagus contains esophageal submucosal glands as does the human esophagus, while
mice lack these glands. Recent work through the core has helped to establish these glands as a progenitor cell
source in the esophagus. Disease models of intestinal ischemia have also continued to be a critical component
of the Core, again because pigs are thought to more closely resemble humans in terms of their response to
ischemia. Ex vivo (Ussing chambers) and in vitro studies, particularly those involving large animal complex cell
culture (2D and 3D) are now being offered to bolster the basic science output from large animals. Furthermore,
because of novel ideas related to the interaction of the gastrointestinal tract and the microbiome, we now plan
to introduce gnotobiotic pigs as an additional resource.
The specific aims of the core are: 1) to provide consultation with Core veterinarians to assess feasibility,
logistics and study design; 2) to assist with procurement of animals, and 3) to coordinate animal procedures,
including anesthesia, endoscopy, and surgery.
The Core directors (Blikslager and Gonzalez) have a demonstrated track record in digestive disease and are
board-certified veterinary specialists in surgery. Veterinary board-certified specialists in laboratory animal
medicine, internal medicine, anesthesia, and advanced imaging (MRI, CT, nuclear medicine) are readily
available from the NC State Veterinary Hospital. Newly renovated facilities funded in large part by an NIH G20
grant are crucial to the Core’s ability to offer medical, surgical and gnotobiotic capabilities adjacent to large
animal research housing. Based on funded projects developed with the Large Animal Models Core and CGIBD
investigators during the prior funded period, the Core will aim to have 4-6 projects running at any one time.
Although the Core currently serves a small number of members, it provides a remarkable scientific impact on
their research which would not be possible without ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9883401
- **Project number:** 2P30DK034987-35
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** ANTHONY BLIKSLAGER
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $74,729
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9883401

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9883401, Large Animal Core (2P30DK034987-35). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9883401. Licensed CC0.

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