As part of the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science’s (KIZ, CAS) goal of developing novel animal models of human diseases, research groups at the institute have spent a great deal of time studying the Chinese tree shrew. Usng tree shrews models in place of traditional primate models  has become increasingly popular, largely due to the tree shrew’s cheaper cost, smaller size, faster reproduction and high brain-to-body mass ratio.

To date, the tree shrew model has been used in groundbreaking research on hepatitis, myopia, aging, and depression. However, efforts to make the tree shrew a more viable alternative to primates in experimental and translational research has been hindered by a lack of basic knowledge about the tree shrew genome. Last year, researchers at KIZ published the first high-quality tree shrew reference genome in Nature Communications. This year, Yao Yong-Gang’s team at KIZ has gone one step further by launching the world’s first Tree Shrew Database to provide access to the most current tree shrew data.

The new Tree Shrew Database hosts the most up to date genetic information on the tree shrew, and integrates several commonly used scientific programs, allowing researchers easier access and use of data generated by researchers worldwide. The database can be accessed freely online at www.treeshrewdb.org.