Behavioral Assessment
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Open field testing
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Radial arm water maze
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Contextual fear conditioning
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Nest-building assessment
Animal Models of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease remains one of the most challenging neurodegenerative disorders for therapeutic development. Successful programs require preclinical models that replicate key aspects of therapeutic target pathology and disease biology.
Successful programs require preclinical models that replicate key aspects of disease biology, enabling robust assessment of target engagement, pharmacodynamic response, efficacy, and translational biomarkers. We leverage well-characterized transgenic mouse models to evaluate therapies targeting amyloid pathology, tau pathology, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Our neuroscience team supports drug developers, biotechnology companies, and pharmaceutical organizations with integrated Alzheimer's disease research services spanning in vitro models and assays, in vivo pharmacology, biomarker analysis, histopathology, and translational data interpretation. We work with you to align model selection with therapeutic mechanism, development stage, and translational objectives.
Validated Models to Support Alzheimer's Drug Development
We offer a portfolio of established and translationally relevant rodent models designed to support efficacy testing, biomarker evaluation, pharmacology studies, and mechanism-of-action investigations.
5xFAD Mouse Model
Tg2576 Mouse Model
P301S Tau Mouse Model
An aggressive amyloid pathology model that develops early plaque deposition, neuroinflammation, deficits in cerebral blood flow and vascular reactivity, as well as cognitive impairment. Frequently used for evaluating anti-amyloid therapeutics and disease-modifying interventions.
A widely characterized APP-overexpressing model used for assessing amyloid-targeting therapies, biomarker changes, deficits in cerebral blood flow and vascular reactivity, as well as cognitive performance, and neuroinflammatory responses.
A robust tauopathy model characterized by progressive tau pathology, neurodegeneration, and behavioral deficits. Particularly valuable for evaluating anti-tau therapeutics and mechanisms targeting neurofibrillary pathology.
Alzheimer’s Disease In Vivo Endpoints
Our extensive capabilities and translational endpoints include:
Behavioral Assessment
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Open field testing
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Radial arm water maze
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Contextual fear conditioning
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Nest-building assessment
Behavioral Assessment
In Vivo Imaging
In Vivo Imaging
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MRI volumetry
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Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for neurometabolites
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FDG-PET imaging of neurometabolism
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TSPO-PET imaging of neuroinflammation
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Vascular reactivity (functional ultrasound)
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Longitudinal ARIA detection
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BBB permeability
Biomarker Analysis
Biomarker Analysis
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Amyloid beta
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Tau and phospho-tau
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NfL
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Cytokines
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Microgliosis
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Astrogliosis
Research Objective: Amyloid pathology
Recommended models: 5xFAD or Tg2576
Research Objective: Tau pathology
Recommended models: PS19 (P301S)
Research Objective: Neuroinflammation
Recommended models: 5xFAD or PS19 (P301S)
How to Select the Right Alzheimer's Disease Animal Model
Choosing the appropriate model is critical to generating meaningful preclinical data. Different in vivo models reproduce distinct components of Alzheimer's disease biology, including amyloid pathology, tau aggregation and propagation, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Our scientists work closely with sponsors to align model selection with therapeutic mechanism, development stage, and translational objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 5xFAD and Tg2576 mice?
5xFAD mice develop amyloid pathology rapidly and display early phenotypes, while Tg2576 mice show a slower disease progression. Both models are frequently used for longitudinal efficacy studies.
Which model is best for tau pathology?
PS19 (P301S) mice are specifically designed to model tau dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
