Unlocking the secrets of the zebrafish

The zebrafish: a beautiful animal and an important research tool. As scientists, we know that the zebrafish is a useful model for human disease – it been used in genetic studies for years – but do the public?

Imagine my surprise when I spotted two adverts – one either side of an unmemorable story in the newspaper – from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). One featured a woman explaining how the zebrafish is used in cardiac research, while the other showed the zebrafish, telling me how his heart can heal itself.

Later that evening – either side of an advert on kitchen roll or pet food or whatever it was – the same sight greeted me via the magic of television. First there was Joanne – well an actress playing the part of real life heart attack victim Joanne – who said the zebrafish can mend his heart in hours, unlike her heart which remains damaged. She explained that scientists aim to unlock his secrets in the hope that human hearts can be repaired in the same way. She said the BHF needs money to fund this, but doesn’t mention how much. “He’s not just a fish, he’s hope,” she says.

Another tedious commercial followed, and then the zebrafish had his say. “Hope in a bowl she calls me,” he said, before explaining he can heal his heart in the same way we heal a broken leg. He said he’s teaching scientists so she can do the same. “She’s raising money for the BHF. Lets help them out – I can’t – no pockets,” he said before swimming away.

It’s not every day you see adverts like this that openly state they use animals in research and I have to say to made me sit up and pay attention – I  think the BHF should be applauded for doing so.

I wanted to find out why the BHF decided to be so original in their plea for donations, and started digging on their website. There’s a nice video (which I’ve added to Lab News Likes on our YouTube Channel) from Dr Tim Chico explaining how zebrafish are used in research.

By studying how the heart and blood vessels develop – which is relatively easy as zebrafish are completely see-through – scientists can make assumptions about how the processes occur in humans. His research involves switching on and off genes which create blockages in the arteries and seeing how the zebrafish overcomes this. He also explained how the zebrafish is useful for screening drug candidates and for observing the effect they have on blood vessel development.

So not only have the BHF decided to be open about their use of animals in research – which adheres to the 3Rs, reduction, refinement and replacement – they’re trying to explain to the general public how they’re being used.

Nick Radmore, Head of Social Marketing and Brand at the British Heart Foundation, told me: “Although fish are clearly very different from humans, many of the molecular processes involved in creating heart tissue are the same or similar. Zebrafish have the capacity to repair their own hearts. By understanding how they do this, we may be able to ‘teach’ human heart cells to do the same.”

“We always check our ideas with patients, supporters and members of the public before committing to a campaign and our Mending Broken Hearts campaign was no exception. Our focus groups included men and women, heart attack survivors, those who have lost friends and family to heart disease, as well as members of the wider public,” Nick said. “They agreed the messages in this campaign were extremely relevant and important, and it captured their attention about heart disease and the need for money to fund this groundbreaking research.”

I think the British Heart Foundation deserves a big pat on the back – particularly as calling donations isn’t the main thrust of the advert. Unlike many charity commercials which ask you to donate £X per month to their cause, the BHF focus on the research, with a brief mention of an appeal pack at the end.

The BHF say they need £50 million for this groundbreaking research that could literally mend broken heart in as little as 10 years. These BHF adverts caught my eye, and will certainly encourage me to make a donation – I think I might even purchase a few gifts from the Mending Broken Hearts range on their website www.bhf.org. For more information on the appeal visit www.bhf.org.uk/mbh.

Author: Kerry Taylor Smith Staff Writer, Laboratory News