QPS Neuropharmacology is the division of QPS that focuses on preclinical studies in CNS diseases, Orphan 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, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and other neurodegenerative 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.
QPS Neuropharmacology is a preclinical full-service contract research organization (CRO) focusing on CNS diseases, Orphan diseases and mental disorders.
The availability of highly predictive disease models and unparalleled experience with studies performed for biopharmaceutical companies of all sizes makes QPS the first choice for most needs in CNS drug development.
Validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models cover most targets of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Niemann-Pick Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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
QPS NEURO NEWS
Neurofilament light chain – biomarker of high translational value!
Neurofilament light chain – biomarker of high translational value!
Biomarkers and their use in neurodegenerative disease research delineates a rising area of research and may provide an important link between preclinical disease models and evaluation of disease progression in patients. Neurofilament light chain (NF-L), a neuronal cytoplasmic protein, is increased in a variety of neuronal diseases due to axonal damage. A strong increase of NF-L levels was found in ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) patients (Gaetani et. al, 2018). Therefore, NF-L levels were investigated in the low copy transgenic mouse model SOD1-G93A. Increased plasma NF-L levels were observed already at an age of 24 weeks, reaching significance with 27 weeks (Fig. 1). In the familial Alzheimer’s disease mouse model 5xFAD an increase in plasma NF-L levels can be observed already at an age of 6 months (Fig. 2A). Additionally, strongly elevated CSF NF-L levels can be detected in 9 month old 5xFAD mice (Fig. 2B).
Figure 1: Quantification of neurofilament light chain in plasma of low copy SOD1-G93A mice.
NF-L levels in pg/mL in the plasma of 24, 27 and 30 week old SOD1-G93A mice compared to non-transgenic littermates (ntg). Two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test. Mean + SEM. *p<0.05; ***p<0.001. *compared to ntg; # differences between age groups.
Figure 2: Quantification of neurofilament light chain in plasma and CSF of 5xFAD mice. A: NF-L levels in pg/mL in the plasma of 3, 6, 9 and 12 month old 5xFAD mice compared to non-transgenic littermates (ntg). Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni‘s post hoc test. B: NF-L levels in pg/mL in the CSF of 9 months old 5xFAD mice compared to ntg. Unpaired t-test. A and B: Mean + SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Webinar “Predictive Disease Models for CNS Drug Development“
In November 2018, Birgit Hutter-Paier, PhD, the Director of Neuropharmacology at QPS Austria presented this webinar about validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models covering most targets of AD, PD, HD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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You will learn:
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Brought to you by ADDF ACCESS, a program of the ADDF and Science Exchange, as part of their commitment to connect researchers developing CNS drugs with technologies that can help accelerate breakthrough discoveries.
Format: 30 minutes with 10 minutes Q&A
In Vitro Services
QPS Austria’s Neuropharmacology Department provides research services with numerous standardized cell culture systems including transgenic and non-transgenic cell lines, glial cells, primary chicken and rat peripheral and central nervous system neurons of different developmental stages and organotypic brain slices. New models are developed and validated on request.
In Vivo Services
We have more than 15 years experience in generating, characterizing and maintaining transgenic disease models and using them for drug testing projects. Several customized behavioral tests, including motor, cognitive, and emotional assays, are offered to phenotype mouse and rat models and to evaluate effects of compounds in different in vivo models.
Ex Vivo Services
Our ex vivo services cover a full range of histological services, a biobank composed of various specimen derived from our in-house in vivo and in vitro models, and numerous well established tests for biomarkers. We are happy to test new protocols and establish new markers to meet your specific needs.
