Cell- and Gene-Based Therapeutic Models

• Surgical expertise in delivering cell-based test articles to various anatomical locations (rodents and nonhuman primates)
• Extensive experience with immunocompromised rodents and the use of immunosuppressants
• Tumorigenicity and biodistribution analysis of cellular test articles

Screening Models for Pain

• Mouse writhing
• Rodent tail flick, hot plate, modified Hargreave’s
• Chung surgical model of pain, using Von Frey's allodynia readout
• Nonhuman primate warm water tail withdrawal (analgesia, hyper-analgesia)

Tumor Models for Anticancer Drug Discovery

• Human tumor xenograft models in immunocompromised rodents
• Human orthotopic models in immunocompromised rodents (models can be coupled to imaging capabilities to observe tumors growth/regression)
• Human metastasis tumor models in immunocompromised rodents (models can be coupled to imaging capabilities to observe tumors growth/regression)
• NMU-induced rat mammary tumor models (tumor prevention and treatment tests)
• Metastasis models of human lung cancer xenografted in immunocompromised mice
• Mouse/rat syngeneic tumor models

Diabetes and Obesity Models

• Streptozotocin-induced diabetes (rodents)
• Hypoglycemia and glucose tolerance tests (rodents and nonhuman primate)
• Weight gain/prevention studies (rodents)
• Diet induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia models (rodents)

Infectious Disease Models

• Rodent bacteremia/peritonitis
• Chinchilla acute otitis media (Haemophilus influenzae)
• Rabbit otitis externa
• Rabbit diarrheal disease
• Vaccine efficacy and safety studies (rodents and dogs)

Cardiovascular Models

• Atherosclerosis models in a variety of species (denudation followed by fatty diet)
• Myocardial infarction models in rats (surgical induction) with various readouts for injury/recovery following reperfusion

Acute Inflammation Models

• Ovalbumin induced asthma models in rats (flexivent evaluation of lung function)
• Variety of arthritis models in rodents (collagen, adjuvant induced)
• Bleomycin-induced lung injury (rats)
• Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice
• Phlebitis (rabbit ears)

In Vivo Sex Steroid Models

• Estrogenic/antiestrogenic evaluation in rats (uterus and vaginal epithelium)
• Clauberg progestational evaluation in rabbits
• Androgenic/antiandrogenic effects in rats (prostate, seminal vesicles, levator ani)

Neutropenia Mouse Models

• Recovery test of therapeutics in cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenic mouse models
• Survival test of therapeutics in Staphylococcus aureus-infected, CPM-induced neutropenic mouse models

Dermatology Models

• Rhino mouse model for oral and topical acne drug discovery (utricular reduction test)
• Pharmacodynamic analysis of dermatological therapeutics in normal and hairless rodent skin: RQ-RT-PCR analysis of gene transcripts

Behavioral Models

• Morris water maze (learning and memory in rodents)
• Conditioned immobility (classical conditioning learning and memory in rodents)
• Accelerating rotarod (motor coordination in rodents)

Ocular Toxicity and Disease Modeling

The ophthalmology program at MPI Research offers a range of functional and imaging assays to determine the toxicity or evaluate the efficacy of test articles in various species. Using in vivo assays such as Electroretinography (ERG), Angiography (FA, ICG), SD-OCT, Slit lamp, confocal SLO, and general ocular exams we can track toxicity or efficacy progression over the course of a study with fewer animals. In addition, we offer established and validated ocular models of AMD, diabetes, and dry eye while working with Sponsors to develop and implement custom programs.

Specialized Routes of Test Article Administration

• Continuous tail vein infusion in rats
• Central administration via stereotaxic placement of cannulas/catheters (intracerebral/intrathecal) in rats

In Vitro Support Services

• Tissue culture facility
• BSL-2 laboratory for handling pathogens
• GLP-compliant flow cytometry facility