Research from one of the Synodos for NF1 research teams was recently published in a prestigious science journal. The University of Minnesota team is focused on developing and perfecting swine models that will most accurately replicate human reaction to drugs in preclinical testing.
These minipigs exhibit many of the clinical hallmarks of NF1, including café au laits, neurofibromas, and optic pathway gliomas, which may prove critical in testing new therapies for NF1 patients. Similar to people with NF1, these animals spontaneously develop these manifestations, presenting an unprecedented opportunity to study the complex biology of NF1. Click here to read the published study, spearheaded by Dr. David Largaespada (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Adrienne Watson (Recombinetics, Inc.) in Communications Biology, and click here to read more from the announcement.
Synodos for NF1 was launched in 2016. It is comprised of three distinct research groups; two groups are focusing on preclinical acceleration and one research group is dedicated to low-grade gliomas. The preclinical acceleration teams share the goal of accelerating the path to a cure, but will use different technology and target different genetics to mimic NF1. Click here to hear Dr. Largaespada, introduce the project and the team and click here to read the launch announcement.
These steps forward and progress in animal development are proof positive that the Synodos model of collaboration is breaking down barriers and advancing science.
