- Email:
- Phone:
- Add:
Ophthalmic Disease Models
Current mammalian models for ophthalmic diseases often fail to translate clinical outcomes effectively, leading to high failure rates in later development stages. Aquatic animal models, particularly the Zebrafish (Danio rerio), have emerged as a superior, high-throughput platform that can better reflect complex human ocular pathology. BioVenic specializes in leveraging advanced technologies, including precise genome engineering and multiomics profiling, to develop predictive models across a spectrum of sight-threatening conditions.
Aquatic animal ophthalmic disease models, anchored by the Zebrafish, provide an unparalleled vertebrate system for translational vision research. These teleost fish exhibit remarkable genetic and physiological homology to humans, sharing over 80% of disease-associated genes. Their eyes possess the same fundamental cellular organization as the human retina, including conserved photoreceptors and neuronal pathways. Crucially, the transparent embryonic stage allows for direct, non-invasive observation of disease progression and drug distribution in a developing, live organism. This combination of genetic relevance, structural fidelity, and optical clarity makes the Zebrafish an ideal vehicle for modeling complex disorders like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and congenital cataract.
Fig.1 Schematic diagram indicating the development of zebrafish eye.1,3
The efficiency and predictive power of aquatic models stem from key biological characteristics that translate directly into competitive advantages for drug development programs. BioVenic maximizes the utility of these advantages across therapeutic areas:
Fig.2 Overview of present and potential applications in Zebrafish eye research.2,3
BioVenic provides end-to-end services utilizing cutting-edge technologies to drive ophthalmic lead generation, customized for the client's target platform.
Genetic Disease Model Generation
We use gene editing technology to develop customized knock-out or knock-in models. Specific examples include RHO gene knockout models for hereditary retinal pigmentosa and VEGF overexpression models for retinal neovascularization. These models allow for deep investigation into the molecular pathogenesis of inherited blindness and angiogenic disorders, providing stable, genetically validated systems for long-term drug testing.
High-Content Efficacy Screening
Automated robotics and advanced image analysis are used for High-Throughput Screening (HTS) of large compound libraries. We efficiently test candidates against chemically induced models, such as sodium selenite-induced cataract and high glucose-induced diabetic retinopathy, to provide actionable data on potential therapeutic leads quickly and affordably.
Predictive Oculotoxicity Testing
We leverage the sensitive visual and behavioral systems of the larvae for the Visual Motor Response (VMR) assay, a recognized, predictive behavioral test for early safety assessment. This crucial screen helps de-risk lead candidates by identifying potential human oculotoxic effects long before costly later-stage trials. The VMR assay provides quantitative, non-invasive data on visual function impairment caused by systemic drug exposure.
Mechanistic Validation & Omics
Multiomics & Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) are integrated to provide deep molecular insights into disease pathology and drug action, offering a layer of data impossible to obtain in many conventional models. This includes full transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of diseased and regenerating ocular tissues, allowing clients to validate the mechanism-of-action for their compounds and uncover novel next-generation therapeutic targets.
Professional Team
Customized Services
Innovative Technology
Efficient Services
Choosing BioVenic means partnering with experts in precise genetic engineering and high-resolution auditory phenotyping. Our integration of cutting-edge technology with true high-throughput capability delivers superior, translational data that accelerates discovery. Contact us to receive a quote and discuss how our aquatic models can advance your personalized research goals.
References
Our products and services are for research use only and cannot be used for any clinical purposes.