How zebrafish are changing the way doctors treat children with cancer
Sepember 30, 2018
A project at Dalhousie Medical School is underway featuring over 12,000 zebrafish in swim tanks. These small fish possess an important connection to children being treated in the nearby area, they have the same forms of cancer.
Although this may seem a little out of the ordinary, Dr. Jason Berman, a pediatric oncologist at Halifax Hospital states, “remarkably, these fish are genetically very similar to humans.” Treatments are tested on these fish to give a glimpse into how children might respond to different drugs. Zebrafish react quickly to new treatments, as a result of there quick lifespans. As a result, Berman claims this has the potential to change how cancer is treated in the near future.
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