RapportFondation 2025 V02 EN light - Flipbook - Page 70
Supporting SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
2024 REPORT
BELGIUM
Stem cells
IN THE SERVICE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
AMOUNT COMMITTED TO DATE: WE CONTRIBUTE
THROUGH TIME-INVESTMENT OF OUR TEAMS.
2022 > PRESENT
Since 2022, Pairi Daiza has been working with Revatis – a spin-off of the University of Liège specialising in cell
therapy and regenerative medicine – on wildlife conservation. Revatis has developed a pioneering technology to
allow stem cells to be grown from muscle microbiopsies weighing just a few milligrams. Although this process has
already had positive results in many domestic species, the collaboration with Pairi Daiza has enabled several samples
to be taken from wild species, such as bison and some of the big cats, during anaesthesia already planned for other
medical procedures on these animals.
The results of these samples are promising, potentially paving the way for the conservation of genetic heritage,
the development of new therapeutic applications and studies on energy metabolism. They also offer considerable
research potential, especially for species for which in vivo studies are difficult. Eventually, these cells could even
contribute to the reproduction of endangered species, raising hopes for biodiversity conservation.
70
