What is the Role of Animal Research in Epidemiology?

Animal research plays a crucial role in epidemiology by providing a foundational understanding of disease mechanisms, potential treatments, and prevention strategies. Through controlled experiments, researchers can simulate disease outbreaks and study pathogen-host interactions, which are often difficult to observe directly in human populations. This not only aids in understanding the etiology of diseases but also in developing and testing hypotheses that can be further explored in human studies.