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The University of Murcia and Cefusa, a livestock company of Grupo Fuertes, signed a collaboration agreement on Wednesday that will allow the launching of a 'piglet sanctuary' at the Veterinary Farm of the University of Murcia.
José Luján, rector of the UMU, and José Fuertes, CEO of Cefusa, have signed the contract that will allow the development of research projects in that space.
In this 'piglet sanctuary' live in freedom and conditions as close as possible to the natural environment in open space and with a pond-born pigs with innovative techniques of assisted reproduction and pigs born naturally.
Pilar Coy, professor of Physiology and coordinator of the project, explained that the objective is to measure and study through the pigs the possible consequences for health that may have to reach adulthood people born through fertilization techniques' in vitro'.
"This is something that we can not study in people because there are no elderly people, the oldest age born by these techniques is now forty years," said Coy.
Researchers can perform from these facilities the monitoring and control of growth, metabolism, disease resistance or reproductive capacity of the animals reproduced both with the new method and with the conventional technique, and compare them with animals born by natural fertilization.
Professor Pilar Coy pointed out that there are indications that people born using 'in vitro' techniques may have a greater propensity to develop some diseases, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disorders, and this research project will allow conclusions to be extrapolated to humans.
"Only if we can avoid a disease to a person and we would be satisfied," said Coy, who wanted to make clear that the techniques of reproduction 'in vitro' are completely safe and that the project is to see possible effects on the long-term health.
The 'piglet sanctuary' will be the first in the world with these characteristics and will allow US research groups
with whom there are already contacts can come to develop another type of research.
The project for the construction of the 'sanctuary' is already prepared, waiting to resolve administrative procedures to begin construction.
The rector of the University of Murcia, José Luján, thanked Cefusa and Grupo Fuertes for their willingness to collaborate with the institution on such an important project that could have important social repercussions.
Source: Universidad de Murcia
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