CNS disease models and translational technologies in non-human primates
Prisys Biotech provides non-human primate (NHP) models and supporting technologies for CNS and neurology drug development. The research portfolio includes intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, brain ischemic stroke/MCAO, Parkinson's disease, pain, epilepsy, AAV-α-synuclein overexpression, and migraine-pain models.
These models can be paired with AI-based behavior analysis, MRI and other imaging modalities, electrophysiology, pharmacology, PK/PD, and MRI-guided intracranial procedures. The study package is selected according to the disease mechanism, therapeutic modality, target, and required endpoints.
CNS and neurology models at a glance
Prisys Biotech's CNS model portfolio covers cerebrovascular disease, neurodegeneration, movement disorders, pain, migraine, and seizure-related research. The following models and model categories are available for study discussion, subject to protocol design and scientific fit.
Intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke model
The intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke model is used to study the effects of bleeding within the brain, including neurological deficits, functional impairment, disease progression, and treatment response. Behavioral, imaging, and physiological endpoints can be selected according to the study question.
Potential assessments may include neurological examination, movement and activity analysis, MRI-based evaluation, and longitudinal follow-up. The final induction method, anatomical location, severity range, and endpoint set should be defined in the protocol.
Brain ischemic stroke and MCAO model
The brain ischemic stroke model, including middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), is used to evaluate ischemic brain injury and neurological recovery. It can support studies of neuroprotective therapies, regenerative approaches, drug delivery systems, and interventions intended to improve functional outcomes after ischemic injury.
Behavioral analysis can be used alongside imaging and neurological assessments to monitor changes in motor function, activity, coordination, and other protocol-defined endpoints. MRI may support lesion assessment and longitudinal evaluation of disease status or treatment response.
Parkinson's disease model
Prisys Biotech supports NHP Parkinson's disease research with assessments focused on motor dysfunction, activity, movement patterns, and treatment response. Depending on the study design, the model can be combined with AI-based behavioral analysis, imaging, electrophysiology, pharmacology, and intracranial delivery procedures.
Parkinson's disease programs may evaluate symptomatic treatments, disease-modifying therapies, cell or gene therapies, target engagement, or delivery approaches. Model characteristics, induction procedures, and endpoints are selected according to the therapeutic hypothesis.
Pain models
Prisys Biotech's NHP pain research includes models for thermal pain, cold pain, migraine-related pain, and chronic pain. Pain studies require a defined stimulus, behavioral endpoint, observation schedule, and method for distinguishing treatment effects from normal behavioral variation.
The pain model portfolio includes:
- Thermal pain models: assessment of responses to heat-related stimuli and changes in nociceptive behavior.
- Cold pain models: assessment of responses to cold-related stimuli and changes in sensitivity or withdrawal behavior.
- Migraine models using CGRP or PACAP38: evaluation of migraine-related pain and associated behavioral responses following pathway-specific challenge.
- PSNL chronic pain model: a partial sciatic nerve ligation model for the study of persistent neuropathic pain-related behavior.
- Capsaicin migraine-pain model: evaluation of nociceptive and migraine-related behavioral responses following capsaicin challenge.
The exact pain stimulus, dose, route, observation window, and primary endpoint should be specified in the study protocol. Behavioral data may be combined with pharmacology, PK/PD, imaging, or other measurements where relevant to the program.
Epilepsy model
The NHP epilepsy model supports research into seizure activity, seizure-related behavior, disease progression, and treatment response. Depending on the protocol, studies may include continuous or scheduled EEG monitoring, behavioral observation, neurological assessment, imaging, and pharmacological evaluation.
The endpoint plan may include seizure frequency, seizure duration, seizure type, EEG features, postictal behavior, and treatment-related changes. The final recording schedule and analysis criteria should be established before study initiation.
AAV-α-synuclein overexpression NHP model
The AAV-α-synuclein overexpression NHP model is used to study alpha-synuclein-related pathology and Parkinson's disease biology. It can support evaluation of gene therapies, antisense or RNA-based approaches, protein-targeting strategies, and other interventions directed at alpha-synuclein pathways.
This model may be combined with MRI-guided intracranial delivery, AI-based behavior analysis, imaging, electrophysiology, CSF or other biological sampling, and PK/PD or target-engagement assessments. The vector design, target region, administration plan, expression period, and outcome measures require protocol-specific confirmation.
Migraine-pain NHP models
Migraine-pain NHP models are used to investigate migraine-related nociception and the pharmacology of migraine pathways. Prisys Biotech's migraine-pain model work includes CGRP challenge, PACAP38 challenge, and capsaicin-based models, as well as behavioral endpoints designed for the specific study question.
These models can support assessment of preventive or acute migraine therapies, pathway-specific pharmacology, and dose-response relationships. Behavioral monitoring may be paired with physiological or imaging measurements when required by the program.
Technologies supporting CNS model studies
Prisys Biotech's CNS research is built around an integrated set of NHP study technologies. A study can use one technology or combine several methods to answer a specific pharmacology, delivery, or translational question.
AI-based NHP behavior analysis with BehaviorAtlas®
BehaviorAtlas® is a markerless, three-dimensional NHP behavior analysis system. It uses synchronized multi-view video and deep-learning methods to reconstruct movement features and characterize predefined behavioral states or sequences.
Depending on the protocol, the system can support:
- markerless 3D movement analysis;
- skeletal reconstruction using more than 21 key points;
- behavior-state estimation on a seconds scale;
- analysis of locomotion, posture, activity, abnormal movement, and other defined behaviors; and
- comparison of behavioral patterns across baseline, disease, and treatment periods.
The endpoint set is determined by the model and study question. For example, a Parkinson's disease study may focus on movement and motor function, while a pain study may focus on stimulus-evoked responses and pain-related behavior.
MRI and multimodal imaging
Imaging can be used to characterize disease status, guide procedures, monitor lesion or target changes, and support longitudinal assessment. Depending on the study, Prisys Biotech can integrate MRI with CT, PET-CT, DSA, or other protocol-defined imaging methods.
For CNS studies, imaging may be used for stroke lesion assessment, anatomical targeting, delivery confirmation, disease monitoring, or correlation with behavioral and physiological findings. The imaging sequence and schedule are selected according to the model and therapeutic modality.
MRI-guided neurosurgery and CED
For programs involving intracranial delivery or deep-brain targets, Prisys Biotech supports MRI-guided procedures and convection-enhanced delivery (CED). ClearPoint® navigation and real-time MRI can be used to support stereotactic targeting and visualize the distribution of an infusate containing a compatible contrast agent.
Reported platform data for the NHP iMRI-CED workflow include a radial error of 0.38 ± 0.12 mm and a depth error of -0.17 ± 0.72 mm. These figures describe reported platform performance. Actual results depend on the target, procedure, device configuration, and study protocol.
This workflow may be relevant to Parkinson's disease, AAV-α-synuclein overexpression, gene therapy, cell therapy, and other CNS programs that require targeted intracranial administration.
Electrophysiology and EEG
Electrophysiological assessments can provide functional data that complement behavior and imaging. Depending on the model, the study may include EEG monitoring for epilepsy, electrophysiological recording for movement disorders, or other protocol-defined measurements of neural activity.
Recording parameters, implantation or acquisition methods, monitoring duration, and analysis criteria are determined during protocol development.
NHP pharmacology and PK/PD
CNS models can be integrated with pharmacology and PK/PD assessments to evaluate exposure, dose-response relationships, pharmacodynamic effects, and the relationship between treatment and functional endpoints. Where relevant, CSF sampling, imaging, electrophysiology, and behavior analysis can be used to connect exposure with target engagement and observed response.
How the CNS technologies are combined
A typical CNS study may combine the following evidence streams:
- Disease model: establishes the relevant neurological or pain phenotype.
- Functional endpoints: quantify behavior, motor function, pain-related responses, or seizure-related changes.
- Imaging and physiology: characterize lesions, targets, delivery, or neural function.
- Pharmacology and PK/PD: relate dose and exposure to biological and functional effects.
- Integrated interpretation: connects the findings to the therapeutic mechanism and the next development decision.
Not every study requires every technology. The appropriate combination depends on the therapeutic modality, target, route of administration, disease stage, and decision criteria.
CNS study planning at Prisys Biotech
Prisys Biotech works with sponsors to define the model, technology package, and endpoints before study execution. The planning process typically addresses:
- the disease mechanism and therapeutic hypothesis;
- the most appropriate NHP model or model combination;
- induction method and study duration;
- primary and secondary behavioral endpoints;
- imaging, EEG, electrophysiology, PK/PD, CSF, or other supporting measurements;
- intracranial delivery or surgical requirements, if applicable; and
- data analysis, reporting, and interpretation requirements.
Model availability, induction procedures, and endpoint details should be confirmed during protocol development. The final design should reflect the scientific objective and the ethical justification for NHP use.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What CNS disease models does Prisys Biotech offer?
A: Prisys Biotech's CNS and neurology model portfolio includes intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, brain ischemic stroke/MCAO, Parkinson's disease, pain models, epilepsy, AAV-α-synuclein overexpression, and migraine-pain NHP models.
Q: What pain models are available?
A: The pain model portfolio includes thermal pain, cold pain, CGRP or PACAP38 migraine models, the PSNL chronic pain model, and capsaicin migraine-pain models. The exact stimulus, induction method, and endpoint package are defined during protocol development.
Q: Can Parkinson's disease studies include AAV-α-synuclein overexpression?
A: Yes. The AAV-α-synuclein overexpression NHP model is a distinct model option for studying alpha-synuclein-related biology and therapeutic approaches. It can be evaluated with behavioral, imaging, electrophysiological, biological, and pharmacological endpoints selected for the program.
Q: Can CNS behavior analysis be combined with MRI or EEG?
A: Yes. BehaviorAtlas® analysis can be integrated with MRI, MRI-guided procedures, EEG, electrophysiology, PK/PD, CSF sampling, and other protocol-defined assessments. The combination is selected according to the model and the study question.
Q: What is MCAO in an NHP stroke study?
A: MCAO refers to middle cerebral artery occlusion, a model used to study focal brain ischemia. In an NHP study, MCAO can be paired with imaging, neurological assessment, behavioral analysis, and treatment-response measurements.
Q: What technologies support intracranial delivery studies?
A: Intracranial delivery studies may use MRI-guided neurosurgery, ClearPoint® navigation, convection-enhanced delivery, real-time imaging, behavioral analysis, and other biological or pharmacological assessments. The final technology package depends on the therapeutic modality and target.
