Examples

Review development examples that show how NAM testing can be used to compare a NAM with in vivo biology, tune an assay for a specific endpoint, or validate predictions before a project moves forward.

These examples illustrate how UC Davis can design targeted in vivo studies to test relevance, predictive value, and translational confidence across different NAM formats.

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in vivo Assessment

Scenario: You need to confirm the predictive value of a microphysiological kidney ("chip") model.

Our Approach: We conduct a functional assessment of mouse kidney function under conditions that replicate your kidney-on-a-chip model, including filtration, clearance, reabsorption, ammoniagenesis, toxicity, gene expression, and more.

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in chemico Optimization

Scenario: You need to ensure the ability of a newly developed Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) to assess skin sensitization to two peptides containing either cysteine or lysine.

Our Approach: We perform skin exposure studies to peptides in wild-type mice and conduct qualitative observational and quantitative measurable assessments of inflammatory response (skin reactive color, swelling, heat, and pain) and histopathology on tissues to assess inflammatory markers.

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in silico Model Evaluation

Scenario: You've developed a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model to predict the long-term sexually-dimorphic liver toxicity of a new weight loss drug.

Our Approach: We conduct PK/PD studies of your drug in male and female cohorts of mice over time, including measurements of body weight, clinical chemistry, and liver histopathology over multiple time points.

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Comparative Studies

Scenario: You have a project using organoids from gastric carcinomas to screen for the therapeutic effects of various chemotherapies and need to demonstrate in vivo translatability to tumors in situ.

Our Approach: We establish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models using gastric carcinoma tissues and conduct in vivo chemotherapy studies to validate the therapeutic predictions from your organoid screening platform.