Unlocking value early in drug development and increasing the translational power of preclinical studies.
The use of biomarkers has the potential to increase value early in drug development by extracting more data and information from each study. This can increase efficiency, reduce costs, guide decisions, boost the translational power of preclinical studies, and effectively enable more drug candidates to move forward.
MD Biosciences utilizes a variety of biomarker assays for analysis of Neuroinflammatory markers, neurodegeneration markers, functional changes in neurons as well as other markers that enable a better understanding of pathological changes.
Biomarker analysis
MD Biosciences is experienced in biomarker analysis for Neuroinflammatory, neurodegeneration, and pain markers that contribute to CNS diseases. Examples of some of the methods we regularly incorporate into studies are listed below.
Biomarker Assays
-
Multiplex Analysis
Multiplex analysis allows the detection of up to 50 biomarkers in a single reaction with a small sample size. This provides the ability to measure biomarker changes as a result of disease progression or therapeutic intervention in limited samples available in preclinical studies.
-
Flow Cytometry
Flow cytometry can be used to characterize cell populations and detect biomarkers on individual cells, which allows a greater understanding into the cellular changes that can often be identified before morphological changes are visible.
-
Immunohistochemistry
Histopathological evaluations form a highly valuable component of preclinical, translational and clinical studies alike, and add spatial, contextual and temporal information directly from tissues of interest.
- Biomarkers in skin, sciatic nerve, spinal cord and other tissue samples
- DRG Axonal staining
- Intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) analysis in skin biopsy samples
-
Electrophysiology
Neurons are the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, and are responsible for carrying information throughout the body using chemical and electrical signals (action potentials). The action potential causes the release of neurotransmitter into the synapse. Measuring action potentials by in vivo electrophysiology allows the study of functional properties of neurons and nerve conductivity. This can reveal pain-related electrical signals from the peripheral nerves to the brain. Electrophysiology enhances the understanding of neurological disorders as well as measures nerve regeneration, degeneration, and protection in response to treatments. In preclinical studies, electrophysiology can be a useful biomarker for measuring the function of the spinal motor neurons and sensory neurons, the functionality of peripheral motor nerves as well as spontaneous nerve firing.
-
DAMP and PAMP Assays
- Tissue samples (from diseased and naive amimals) for biomarker research
- Blood samples (from diseased and naive animals) for biomarker research
-
Laser Doppler Blood Flow Imaging
Used to measure cerebral blood flow of the cortex.
-
Behavior Analysis
Measure cognitive and motor defects, anxiety, stress, and depression. Learn more about behavior analysis.
-
ELISA
Examples of common biomarkers measured with ELISA:
- Neuro-specific enolase NSE
- Protein S-100B
- Ubiquitin C terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1)
- Neurofilament light chain NfL
- Tau protein
- Glial fibrillary acidic protein GFAP
Example Flow Cytometry Analysis
CD4, Th1, Th17, Treg were anlayzed in spleen and spinal cord samples from a mouse MOG-EAE study.
Ready to discuss your project?
If you are ready to discuss how electrophysiology can add to your understanding of your therapeutic potential, our scientists are eager to explore the possibilities with you. Like many other pharmaceutical and medical device developers, you can rely on predictive preclinical data.
