Swine have proven to be particularly effective in biomedical research for human disease because of their genetic makeup.

This fact has enabled swine-based research to achieve more relevant and significant findings than research using other animals such as rats or rabbits.

There are many reasons for the increased usage of swine in biomedical research:

• Their comparative anatomy and physiology closely resemble that of humans making them excellent matches for research in various medical fields.
• They are safely handled due to their amiable temperament.
• Over time, more and more research breeds are available with known individual and herd medical histories.
• There is a greater acceptance by the general public for the use of pigs as laboratory species (as opposed to dogs, cats and rabbits).

In addition to swine being an idle animal model for medical research, it is also used for training surgeons to use laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

The pre-clinical unit of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center has both the facility and expertise with swine in various disciplines.