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A proven whole organism model for neurodegenerative disease research

The challenge

Neurodegeneration produces complex behavioural changes that have profound effects on human quality of life that cannot be replicated in in-vitro models.

However, for in-vivo studies, researchers often rely on models that show artificial degeneration in young animals and thus don’t replicate the changes you would find in a natural ageing model. For example, using mice to look at how neurodegeneration occurs as ageing animals age or to see the long-term effects of early life interventions is complex, time-consuming and costly.

The options to test compounds that could slow the degeneration of neurons in a naturally ageing organism are limited, particularly if you need to reach the next milestone of your research project quickly.

The Magnitude Biosciences approach

We can see the effects of your compound in a naturally ageing model in a matter of weeks. C. elegans are used to generate models of neurodegenerative disease through overexpression of human proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, which leads to loss of function phenotypes that can be scored and used to test interventions. The strongest phenotypes have arisen from overexpression in muscle cells, which gives rise to paralysis. This phenotype is relatively straightforward, albeit tedious to assess manually.  However, our automated data acquisition, strict scheduling of larval selection and the use of defined reagents, help us conduct experiments quickly and still achieve a high level of data reproducibility.

  • Our automated imaging system for C. elegans tracks mobility behaviour for the slow down in movement that precedes paralysis  during the first week of adulthood.Speed distribution and worm position can reveal further health-relevant functional changes. We can also assay chemotaxis and exploration behaviour and how that changes with age.
  • Using C. elegans, you can see the effect on movement  in as little as 3 days.
  • Through continuous monitoring of C. elegans in large populations, we can measure changes in movement without having to decide on arbitrary endpoints e.g. paralysed or non-paralysed.
  • We have example data for models of Huntington’s Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson’s Disease -- contact us and we can share this data with you.

We provide the following benefits:

  • Cost and time-efficient assays for predictivity data prior to rodent models.
  • Rich, sensitive data set that goes far beyond traditional manual lifespan assays.
  • Standardised, population-scale acute and chronic testing for mutation and compound effects on both longevity and fitness.
  • Team of multidisciplinary experts to advise you on study design and data analysis.

 

Download our poster: Developing a System to Quantify Efficacy of Neurodegeneration Therapeutics Using Automated Monitoring of C. elegans

 

We provide invaluable tools to accelerate R&D across different industries

Our team has rich experience helping researchers in these sectors
  • Biotech

    Take the jump from petri dish to in vivo models with confidence.

  • Health and Manufacturing

    Helping industrial R&D get the data they need on their compounds in as little as three weeks.

  • Pharma

    Fast-track your preclinical research and de-risk high-investment rodent studies.

  • Academia

    High-quality C. elegans lab services and machine leasing of our unique automated technology to help you stay top of your field.

biotech

Biotech

Biotech professionals must progress their drug discovery R&D timelines fast in order to make the best use of their funding and IP. We help you take the jump from petri dish to mammal in vivo models with confidence and more quickly than going straight to rodent models.

Find out more

biotech

Health and Manufacturing

Consumer goods, manufacturing and other industries investing in R&D want to put the best quality, eco-friendly products out on the market. However, testing your compounds for impact on environmental and human health can lead to overly complex, ethically challenging and time-consuming studies with animal models. C. elegans offer an ethical approach that can get the data you need on your compound in as little as three weeks.

Find out more

biotech

Pharma

The pressure on drug developers is greater than ever and pharma need to look to innovative new tools to stay ahead of the competition. C. elegans offer an NC3Rs-approved avenue to fast-track preclinical research, to save you from or reduce your reliance on high-investment rodent studies.

Find out more

biotech

Academia

You want to progress your research and improve lab operations but access to the right technologies, technological expertise and the time to juggle everything is challenging. We offer high-quality C. elegans lab services, transgenics services, and machine leasing of our unique automated technology to help you stay top of your field.

Find out more

Biotech

Take the jump from petri dish to in vivo models with confidence.

Health and Manufacturing

Helping industrial R&D get the data they need on their compounds in as little as three weeks.

Pharma

Fast-track your preclinical research and de-risk high-investment rodent studies.

Academia

High-quality C. elegans lab services and machine leasing of our unique automated technology to help you stay top of your field.

CONTACT US

Get in touch today to find out how we can support you to accelerate your research

CONTACT US

Get in touch today to find out how we can 
support you to accelerate your research
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