Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) Model Development Service

Are you currently facing challenges in accurately modeling complex psychiatric disorders or understanding the systemic impact of chronic stress? Our CUMS model development service helps you accelerate drug discovery and obtain high-quality, translational data by replicating the multifaceted nature of human stress through a robust and validated preclinical model. We leverage advanced behavioral and molecular techniques to provide comprehensive insights into your therapeutic compounds.

Preclinical animal models are a cornerstone of drug discovery for neuropsychiatric disorders. The CUMS model is a highly validated method for inducing a state of anhedonia and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents, closely mimicking the prolonged, low-grade stress that underlies many human conditions. This model allows researchers to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms of stress and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of novel compounds. Recent published data has expanded the utility of the CUMS model to other physiological systems, strengthening its credibility as a translational research tool.

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How Our CUMS Service Can Assist Your Project

The CUMS model development service is designed to provide you with a powerful and predictive platform for your research. We deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions, including protocol design, precise model induction, behavioral phenotyping, and detailed molecular analysis. This allows you to evaluate the efficacy of novel compounds, investigate disease mechanisms, and gather the critical data needed for regulatory submissions and publications.

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Workflow

Our process is designed for clarity and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience from project initiation to final delivery.

Workflow of our Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) Model Development Services. (Creative Biolabs Original)

Required Starting Materials	To initiate the service, we require a brief project summary detailing your research goals, the compound or intervention to be tested, and any specific hypotheses you wish to explore. We also need information on the animal strain, gender, and age you prefer, as this can significantly impact the model's outcome.
Final Deliverables	Upon project completion, you will receive a detailed final report, a comprehensive data package including raw and analyzed behavioral data, and molecular analysis reports with all relevant graphs and statistical summaries.
Estimated Timeframe	The typical timeframe for this service ranges from 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the study design and the duration of the CUMS protocol. This timeline can be influenced by the number of experimental groups and the specific molecular assays requested.

Why Choose Us?

Our CUMS model development service is distinguished by its scientific rigor, customization, and commitment to delivering translational data. We specialize in tailoring CUMS protocols to target specific behavioral and molecular endpoints, providing more precise and clinically relevant data than off-the-shelf solutions.

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Customer Reviews

"Using CBL's CUMS model development service in our research has significantly improved our ability to link behavioral phenotypes to specific molecular pathways. The detailed data on inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters gave us a clear picture of our compound's efficacy. The team's expertise was invaluable." — Erica B*, 2024

"The precision of the CUMS protocol and the comprehensive reports from CBL helped us validate a novel therapeutic target for stress-related cognitive deficits." — Javier H*, 2024

Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) Model

The CUMS model is a powerful tool for inducing a chronic stress state in rodents. This is achieved by exposing animals to a series of mild, unpredictable stressors over an extended period, such as wet bedding, social isolation, or changes in light cycles. This regimen leads to a range of behavioral and physiological changes, including anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), increased anxiety, and social withdrawal. These symptoms closely mirror those seen in human patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder.

Fig.1 CUMS Experimental procedure.¹

Our research on the CUMS model provides deep insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. We've found that chronic stress progressively disrupts the body's inflammatory balance. In the early stages of CUMS (1−2 weeks), there is a mixed response of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. However, as stress persists (3−4 weeks), this delicate balance is lost, with a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, which correlates with the onset of anxiety-like behaviors.

What We Can Offer

Customized One-Stop Service: We provide a comprehensive, end-to-end service from initial consultation and protocol design to in-depth data analysis and final reporting. This allows you to focus on your core research while we handle the complexities of the preclinical model.
Precise and Reproducible Model Induction: Our rigorous, standardized procedures ensure consistent CUMS model induction with minimal variability, delivering reliable and reproducible data that meets the highest scientific and regulatory standards.
Flexible Study Design: We offer custom optimization of CUMS protocols based on your specific research goals, allowing for flexible study modes including batch and continuous stress regimens to maximize yield and align with your project timeline.
Comprehensive Molecular & Behavioral Phenotyping: We utilize a full suite of high-standard behavioral, molecular, and biochemical tools to quantify and evaluate the quality of your results, providing a complete picture of your compound's efficacy.
Quality-by-Design (QbD) Principles: Our service adheres to a well-established quality system and rigorous aseptic procedures throughout the entire process, ensuring the integrity and reliability of all data.
Expert Consultation: Our team of experienced scientists provides ongoing support, from optimizing experimental conditions to ensuring data stability, guaranteeing the success of your research project.

Related Services

To further support your research, we offer a range of complementary services that can be used in conjunction with our CUMS model development service:

Target Identification & Validation
Compound Screening & Profiling
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) Studies
Neuroinflammation Research Models

FAQs

Q How does the CUMS model compare to other stress models like chronic social defeat?

A While both are excellent models for chronic stress, CUMS more closely mimics the unpredictable, low-intensity stressors of daily life, making it highly relevant for modeling generalized anxiety and depression. Chronic social defeat, on the other hand, is a strong model for social-specific stress, often used for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research. The choice depends on your specific research question, and our team can help you select the most appropriate model.

Q Can your CUMS service be customized for different animal models or strains?

A Absolutely. Our service is fully customizable. We can adapt our CUMS protocol to a variety of rodent models, including different strains of mice and rats. We can also tailor the protocol to induce specific phenotypes, such as anxiety-like behaviors or anhedonia, by adjusting the duration and type of stressors.

We are ready to provide detailed information, answer your questions, and discuss your specific project needs.

Contact Our Team for More Information and to Discuss Your Project.

Reference

Luo, Yanqin, et al. "Chronic unpredictable mild stress induces anxiety-like behavior in female C57BL/6N mice, accompanied by alterations in inflammation and the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism." Frontiers in Neuroscience 19 (2025): 1556744. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2025.1556744

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.

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