The naked mole rat looks like a small hairless mouse which lives in East Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya). It lives 35 years, in good health, whereas a mouse lives an average of 2 to 3 years. Compared to humans, it is as if we live 600 years in perfect health. We have 93% of common genes with the naked mole rat. It is resistant to cancers, cardio-vascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, which are the main causes of human mortality.
The first observations show that the Naked Mole Rat never develops spontaneous cancer, and that its cells never develop malignant tumors.
If a Naked Mole Rat is exposed to highly carcinogenic chemical products it never develops cancer. During the major part of its life it shows no sign of aging: its skin is undamaged. It is vey active and is fertile up to its death.
At the age of 35, the Naked Mole rat dies, but up to now we are unable to explain why.
To be able to decipher the puzzle of the Naked Mole Rat, would mean solving the enigma of cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, neuro-degenerative illnesses and all the pathologies linked to aging…
The naked mole rat is extremely important as a model because from the cells of this animal, pluripotent cells are currently being made that will allow us to understand the resistance mechanism of these animals.
The purpose of the Foundation is to:
Initiate and carry out scientific and medical research to shed light on the mechanisms that protect the Naked Mole Rat
To continue the research programmes in France carried out in the laboratory entirely dedicated to the study of naked mole rat , which was established in the illustrious Necker Hospital in Paris in 2019.
Develop innovative research programs using sensitive new molecular and cellular biology technologies to understand why the naked rat molecule does not develop cancers.