Episode 15 | The Damaraland Mole-Rat with Dr. Rochelle Buffenstein

What can mole-rats teach us about aging, genetics, and biomedical research? Joining us today is Dr. Rochelle Buffenstein, a comparative biologist and Research Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago. With a PhD from the University of Cape Town and decades of experience, Dr. Buffenstein has pioneered the use of mole-rats as models for groundbreaking research in aging and physiology. Her latest study, featured in the November issue of the Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS), explores the Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care. In this episode, Dr. Buffenstein delves into her 40-year journey with mole-rats, from her early days studying vitamin D metabolism in subterranean environments to uncovering the secrets of their exceptional aging processes. She explains the differences between Damaraland mole-rats and their better-known naked counterparts, highlighting unique traits like their cooperative breeding behaviors and genetic diversity. Dr. Buffenstein also shares insights into their care and housing, offering tips for researchers interested in adopting this fascinating model. Whether you’re curious about mole-rats’ potential to revolutionize biomedical research or intrigued by their ability to thrive in extreme environments, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An overview of Dr. Buffenstein’s journey from Zimbabwe to pioneering mole-rat research.
• How collecting wild mole-rats sparked her fascination with their unique biology.
• What brought her to the US and her research focus on mole-rats’ aging processes.
• The value of studying naked mole-rats’ resistance to aging and physiological decline.
• An overview of Dr. Buffenstein’s innovative housing for better mole-rat welfare and research.
• How Damaraland mole-rats differ from their naked counterparts in behavior and genetics.
• What makes the Damaraland mole-rat’s breeding patterns unique and easier to manage.
• Details from her JAALAS paper on providing proper care for better research outcomes.
• How researchers can follow protocols to care for and study mole-rats.
• What makes mole-rats inspiring models for groundbreaking biomedical research.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rochelle Buffenstein on LinkedIn ‘A New Laboratory Research Model: The Damaraland Mole-rat and Its Managed Care’

Jennifer Smith on LinkedIn American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS)The LASt Word: An AALAS Podcast