The NIMML pre-clinical studies have an added translational value by the incorporation of pig models of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and infections caused by enteric or respiratory pathogens. As opposed to mice, pigs lend a physiological composition more comparable to humans, specifically the mucosal immune system, of the pig more closely resembles that of human and are thus an ideal model for studying the complexity of the human immune system and how it responds to inflammation, infection, and injury. Preclinical studies using pigs lay the groundwork for an informed design of human clinical trials.
