The current invention pertains to a method for screening and discovery of
compounds capable of inhibiting, preventing, delaying or reducing genome
maintenance disorders and consequences thereof, in particular ageing
related symptoms and disorders. The current invention provides a method
for screening and discovery of compounds that are capable of inhibiting,
preventing, delaying or reducing genome maintenance disorders and
consequences thereof. The invention exploits animal models that comprise
deficiencies in their genome maintenance systems, such as DNA repair
systems, and display premature, enhanced, accelerated or segmental ageing
phenotypes. These animal models can be advantageously applied to screen
compounds and thereby develop schemes of intervention to treat, delay,
inhibit, prevent or cure ageing related symptoms. The current invention
thus provides a new and powerful tool to screen aid/or discover
therapeutically active compounds to treat ageing related symptoms and
diseases. On the same basis it permits screening and discovery of
compounds that influence ischemia, reperfusion damage in organ/tissue
transplantation, chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation.