CRO for CNS Drug Development
Although QPS is complying with all government regulations for social distancing and allowing employees who can, to work from home, QPS Neuropharmacology is up and running. Please feel free to contact us any time to discuss your research needs.
Welcome to QPS Neuropharmacology
QPS Neuropharmacology is the division of QPS that focuses on preclinical studies in CNS diseases, Rare Diseases and Mental Disorders. The on-site availability of highly predictive disease models and unparalleled experience with studies performed for biopharmaceutical companies of all sizes makes QPS Neuropharmacology the first choice for most CNS drug development needs.
Validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models cover most targets of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Niemann-Pick Disease (NPC1), Gaucher Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) and other neurodegenerative and rare diseases.
QPS is a global contract research organization (CRO) providing discovery, preclinical and clinical drug development services since 1995. Our mission is to accelerate pharmaceutical breakthroughs across the globe by delivering custom-built research services. An award-winning leader in the CRO industry, QPS is known for proven quality standards, technical expertise, a flexible approach to research, client satisfaction and turnkey laboratories and facilities.
CONNECT WITH US ON YOUR PREFERRED R&D MARKETPLACE:
Why Choose Us?
- Customer satisfaction is our absolute priority
- Your timeline is our timeline
- Every study is custom-built
- Scientific input to study design and data interpretation
- Extensive experience with virtually all drug targets and treatment types
- Wide range of validated models and techniques for comprehensive compound tests from a single source
- AAALAC certification ensures highest quality standards
Latest News
In vitro assessment of ALS-related TDP-43 aggregation and stress granule formation
The RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is strongly linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and FTLD.
Several studies have shown that cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates co-localize with stress granule markers. Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic inclusions that repress translation of a subset of RNAs during cellular stress.
Since it was shown that SG formation contributes to accumulation of TDP-43, inhibition of SG formation and/or recruitment of TDP-43 to SGs are pathways that are currently in the focus of ALS research.
To be able to support this research, we have set up a respective in vitro model in TDP-43 overexpressing neuroblastoma cells.
We therefore treated cells with the well-described SG inducer sodium arsenite (SA) and investigated TDP-43 aggregation in soluble and insoluble protein fractions via proteinsimple WES technology (Fig 1) as well as SG formation and TDP-43 recruitment via Immunocytochemistry (Fig. 2). WES analysis showed a strong shift from soluble to insoluble TDP-43 species upon SA treatment (Fig. 1).
Immunocytochemical staining for the SG marker G3BP revealed substantial SG formation in SA treated cells compared to the respective vehicle control (Fig. 2). As previously shown, cycloheximide can counteract SG formation (Fig. 2 bottom row).
Figure 1. Effect of Sodium Arsenite (SA) treatment on soluble and insoluble TDP-43 levels. Cells were harvested after SA or vehicle treatment and a soluble and insoluble protein fraction were separated. Both fractions were analyzed for TDP-43 on proteinsimple WES. WES lane view of TDP-43 signal in soluble and insoluble fraction.
Figure 2. Representative images of Sodium Arsenite and Cylclohexamide treated SH-TDP-43 cells. Vehicle (VC 0.1% DMSO), 200 µM Sodium Arsenite (SA) and SA lesioned plus 10 µM Cycloheximide (CHX) treated SH-TDP-43 cells stained for the stress granule marker G3BP (orange) and human TDP-43 (green). Scale bar 100 µm.
QPS Neuropharmacology has been recognized as one of the TOP CROs in Europe by Pharma Tech Outlook! Within the scope of this acknowledgement, our Senior Director and Head of Neuropharmacology Birgit Hutter-Paier was interviewed about QPS Neuropharmacology’s past and future development. Please read here about our accomplishments and plans.