Psychiatric Disorders Drug Discovery Service

As a leading international biotechnology company, Creative Biolabs believes in the transformative power of science and technology. With our complete suite of neurosciences solutions, we can be your one-stop shop. Our solutions range from study design consultancy to data generation and data interpretation.

Overview

Psychiatric disorders are now the most common cause of long-term absence. Genes are a major factor in many psychiatric disorders, but their mechanisms of action have long seemed elusive. The genetic architecture of psychiatric risk is complex and is dominated by multiple interacting contributing factors. With the convergence of psychiatry and neuroscience, intermediate phenotypes, especially in conjunction with new transgenic technologies, will facilitate translation studies.

Creative Biolabs' Cell Culture Models of Psychiatric Disorders

Due to their high heritability, it is assumed that these disorders are acceptable for cell-based studies in vitro. Cell-based models produce live human neurons with genetic backgrounds permissive to the disease state. Timing analyses of disease initiation and progression can be studied in the cell types associated with the disease. Human cell-based models are ideal experimental paradigms for studying disease mechanisms. To be studied using in vitro models, a particular disease must (1) be highly heritable, ensuring that cultured cells are also affected by the disease without any underlying unresolved environmental factors; (2) influence viable cell types that, ideally, expand rapidly when cultured in vitro.

Fig.1 In vitro models of psychiatric disease utilizing hiPSC neurons and iNeurons. (Brennand, 2012)

Creative Biolabs' Animal Models of Psychiatric Disorders

Because of a poor understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, establishing animal models of psychiatric disorders remains a challenge. Many different mouse models, each with a different purpose, will help characterize different aspects of psychiatric disorders. Animal models are important tools in the study of these diseases. They may be useful in investigating the fundamental mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders and may contribute to the development of new medications.

• Pharmacological Evidence for Mouse Models

Pharmacological data can increase our confidence in the role of a particular trait as a component of a psychiatric disorder and can distinguish between different models.

• Testing Human Candidate Genes in Mouse Models

Genetically engineered mice can be used to identify genes involved in human psychiatric disorders or to identify genes that might be involved in a group of candidate genes.

• Of Knockouts, Knockins, and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) Mutagenesis

Most models available so far have been empty alleles created using knockout (KO) techniques. Sometimes the KO mice can be a valid model, exaggerating the effects of more subtle point mutations.

Creative Biolabs' Preclinical Drug Discovery Services for the Following Psychiatric Disorders

• Anxiety Disorder
• Depression
• Autism Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Addiction and Drug Abuse
• Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Sleep Disorder
• Opioid Dependence

Creative Biolabs offers to lead in vitro and in vivo services for neuroscience research. By partnering with us, you will experience exceptional customer support and you will leverage our expertise at every step of your project. We serve researchers in pharmaceuticals, small startups, and academic institutions. Contact us to talk about your next psychiatric disorders research project.

Reference

1. Brennand, K.J.; et al. Modeling psychiatric disorders at the cellular and network levels. Molecular psychiatry. 2012, 17(12): 1239-1253.

Disclaimer

Creative Biolabs is a neuroscience CRO. As a contract research organization, CBL does not treat patients, sells medication/treatments for use in patients or performs clinical trials. Information about psychiatric disorders is available at the Mental Health America website.