Animal infectious diseases (AID) cause very large but usually unquantified economic losses in countries worldwide, including Canada. Animal models play an essential role in fundamental research for the understanding of AID pathogenesis, disease progression, discovery of novel diagnostic biomarkers, as well as in the development of vaccine prototypes and therapeutic agents. However, classical approaches present ethical, scientific and economical limitations. In this context, we aim to create a unique in-its-class imaging platform for the non-invasive, in vivo visualization of biological and molecular processes in intact organisms over time, in order to create a holistic picture of infectious diseases.
