Abstract

MDC is an Innovate UK funded national centre, born to support the UK’s drug discovery industry to make medicines discovery faster and cheaper. One way we do that is by enabling access to the SME community to pre-clinical Imaging instruments and expertise.  

Pre-clinical Imaging enables the visualisation and measurement of biological functions in a living subject in a non-invasive way to accelerate disease understanding and drug development. 

Through pre-clinical imaging we are able to analyse pathophysiological changes in biology and changes associated with drug toxicity. We can study and quantify organ accumulation and distribution of a specific drug as well as drug target validation and engagement. 

At MDC we have different imaging modalities able to answer different questions. An example is the bioluminescence imaging that allows us to track luciferase expressing cells in vivo for long periods of time. This is particularly useful to monitor subcutaneous and orthotopic tumour xenograft growth overtime, or to track stem cells distribution and homing after implant. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging allows us to study and quantify organ accumulation and distribution of a specific drug or delivery system labelled with CY7 dye. In vivo and ex vivo quantification of the labelled molecule of interest is assessed in different organs, tumour and plasma. We are also developing an in vivo nanoBRET assay that will allow us to identify not only if the drug has reached the organ of interest but specifically if it has engaged with its target. We can also measure functional and metabolic changes of a specific disease status or drug treatment by using static or dynamic PET.  

These are few examples of a wide range on instruments and expertise that allow us to tailor specific solutions to the project’s target, strategy, patient, tissue and commercial potential. Our ultimate goal is to help UK SMEs to accelerate drug discovery projects towards patients.