We are a team of experienced scientists and innovators, passionate about helping to solve significant human health challenges through biomedical research.
From our commitment to knowing and improving the human condition through science comes our name: Virscio (vir’sio)
The pace of biomedical progress is accelerating . . .
We are in a therapeutic development transformation enabled by expanding understanding of pathophysiology and the advent of tools to study and modulate disease biology in precise ways. These advances bring hope that the resulting therapies will provide clinicians and patients new and individualized treatments for unmet medical needs. After decades of research this promise is becoming reality, and these new therapeutic modalities are achieving clinical approval and significant impact on patients’ lives.
. . . but advances are outpacing the progress of preclinical model systems.
While there is reason for optimism, research and development efficiency - as measured by successful approval and launch of new therapeutic products - has been declining. A significant contributor has been the limited capacity of applied preclinical models to accurately predict human response. As commitments and investments in biologics, gene and cell therapies, and precision medicine approaches continue to expand, it is critical that the most clinically relevant test systems are employed to ensure programs are de-risked prior to undertaking the significant investment in human trials.
Our Mission
To accelerate therapeutic innovation and R&D efficiency by developing and providing advanced preclinical models, methods and technologies.
Our integrated preclinical research and development capabilities, multidisciplinary nonhuman primate translational focus and animal welfare commitments are unmatched anywhere in the world, empowering pursuit of our mission:
To accelerate therapeutic innovation and R&D efficiency by developing and providing advanced preclinical models, methods and technologies.
Our integrated preclinical research and development capabilities, multidisciplinary nonhuman primate translational focus and animal welfare commitments are unmatched anywhere in the world, empowering pursuit of our mission:
To establish and apply the best models, tools and technologies to biomedical development
We improve the prediction of clinical outcomes by the humane and sustainable application of optimized nonhuman primate models and endpoints.
To reduce time, cost and risk
We accelerate the selection and development of candidate therapeutics to reduce the time and cost to clinical trial and risk of clinical failure and human harm.
To innovate
We are committed to developing next generation technologies and services that drive gains in research and development productivity and reduction in animal use.
To reduce time, cost and risk
We accelerate the selection and development of candidate therapeutics to reduce the time and cost to clinical trial and risk of clinical failure and human harm.
To reduce time, cost and risk
We accelerate the selection and development of candidate therapeutics to reduce the time and cost to clinical trial and risk of clinical failure and human harm.
To establish and apply the best models, tools and technologies to biomedical development
We improve the prediction of clinical outcomes by the humane and sustainable application of optimized nonhuman primate models and endpoints.
To innovate
We are committed to developing next generation technologies and services that drive gains in research and development productivity and reduction in animal use.
Our Solution
We address translational
risks by applying the most up to date understanding of human pathophysiology to
inform the development and validation of more predictive preclinical models of
human disease and therapeutic delivery. Our
focused approach to solving these challenges is enabled by unparalled
preclinical experience and capabilities, including:
Deep therapeutic area domain expertise
Industry leading initiation timelines and data reporting
Flexible, hands-on engagement tailored to objectives
Commitment to generating definitive, actionable study outcomes and conclusions
Extensive portfolio of validated efficacy and safety models and delivery methods
Humane, sustainable access to a large, biologically clean nonhuman primate population
As stewards
of our unique biological resources, and an AAALAC accredited, GLP-compliant
organization, we maintain the very highest ethical and scientific standards to
drive the best possible study designs, data analysis, and animal care and use. We embrace these responsibilities and are recognized
internationally for this commitment.
Our Science
Preclinical in vivo studies remain an essential means of characterizing and predicting the human response to novel therapeutic interventions and are required by health authorities to assess safety prior to clinical development. In vivo evaluations in non-primate species that evolutionarily diverge more significantly from humans often fail to predict clinical outcomes for a variety of established and emerging therapeutic classes. This contributes to substantially reduced research and development productivity, stalled therapeutic advances, and animal utilization that does not contribute to improved human health outcomes. The humane and ethical use of the most clinically relevant in vivo test systems is essential to produce data sufficiently predictive to reduce the considerable risk and cost of clinical candidate efficacy failure or adverse effect. Our improved health care future depends on the thoughtful and compassionate application of biomedical research resources to which Virscio is fully committed.
Virscio’s biomedical research platform is enabled by our access to African green monkeys, a non-endangered, Old World species introduced to the island of St. Kitts. This biologically clean population is readily sourced in a humane manner to support translational development programs and has a well-defined genetic background favorable for study designs with minimal necessary sample sizes.
Scientific expertise, collaborative engagement and access to unparalleled primate research resources positions Virscio as an ideal translational partner to efficiently generate definitive, actionable data that reduce the time, cost and risk of development for ophthalmic, central nervous system, metabolic, cardiovascular and other therapeutic indications.
Gene Therapy
Non-primate animal models, especially smaller
species, offer advantages of cost and throughput, but often lack the relevant genetic,
anatomic, biochemical or immunologic characteristics to accurately predict
human biodistribution, safety and therapeutic effect. Given the cell surface proteins critical to
the determination of viral capsid binding and transgene delivery, the genetic
and immunologic homology of employed test species is of heightened importance for
viral vector gene therapy candidate testing.
Nonhuman primates are essential to filling this translational gap. The St. Kitts green monkey is of specific
value to gene therapy testing with a historic isolation from common viruses
employed as gene vectors and low prevalence of neutralizing antibodies. Coupled with Virscio’s broad gene therapy
experience, our primate test systems provide critical value in the definition
of safe and effective vector delivery methods, achieved biodistribution,
immunological response and cell-specific transgene expression, all of which are
critical determinants of clinical efficacy and safety.
Ophthalmology
The green monkey eye is over half the size of the human eye, with proportionate ratios of neuroretina, vitreous chamber, lens and anterior chamber volumes, and very similar aqueous production and outflow dynamics. This anatomy and physiology is ideal for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of candidate compounds, devices and gene and cell therapies following traditional and experimental routes of administration. The green monkey also shares a macula, which defines humans and primates as a highly visual species, and allows modeling of macular degeneration and other diseases of the central retina not possible in non-primates. A similarly closely shared microvascular anatomy of the optic nerve and the presence of a lamina cribrosa, exacerbates sensitivity to vascular occlusion and compression of the vessels and retinal ganglion axons channeling through the optic nerve, allowing uniquely predictive modeling of human glaucoma. Enabled by this homology we have validated the green monkey as a test system for evaluation of a number of ophthalmic therapeutic objectives. Virscio regularly applies human clinical ophthalmic instrumentation and clinical endpoints to address questions critical to therapeutic effect preclinically.
Central Nervous System
Nonhuman primate studies are essential to developing
effective treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disease. They allow the
pursuit of in vivo interventional
experiments in a system highly homologous to humans. Research on patients and human tissues has
contributed greatly to our knowledge of CNS pathology, but clinical studies of
novel treatments are appropriately ethically constrained and are confounded by
the inability to experimentally control necessary variables. While rodent models remain widely deployed, there
are limitations to the resulting data, including that from genetic models given
that monogenetic causes of CNS pathology are uncommon. For CNS translational
evaluation the use of nonhuman primates such as the green
monkey has distinct advantages.
They share greater homology to humans than other
species in genomics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics neurophysiology, neurochemistry,
endocrinology, immunology, neuronal network complexity, behavioral
specializations, cognitive processing, and synaptic regulation in addition to the organization and function of the hippocampus,
prefrontal cortex, and other regions relevant to important disease such as
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia. Virscio applies deep neuroscience expertise and
methodological capabilities to healthy and disease relevant CNS test systems to
address critical translational objectives.
Precision Medicine
It
has long been the objective in medicine to tailor therapies to the unique
circumstances of a given patient to achieve more effective outcomes with fewer
side effects. The advent of biologics and gene therapies
with significantly greater targeting specificity have brought the tools and
means to pursue precision medicine at an accelerating pace, but testing such
candidates demands evaluation in predictive test systems that emulate critical
aspects of clinical application.
Whether that critical aspect is a safe, effective intrathecal administration
regimen of a biologic, or the subretinal delivery of an AAV vector, or evaluating
within a specific phenotype, Virscio is positioned to perform the most robust possible
preclinical modeling of your precision medicine intervention.
Clinically Relevant Biology
Nonhuman primates (NHPs) provide a critical translational bridge in the extension of in vitro and rodent findings to the understanding of human physiology and disease. The green monkey is among the most commonly studied NHP species and as an Old World monkey among the most genetically and physiologically homologous to humans. The translational value of the species has been greatly expanded by completion of the reference genome, and the creation of a comprehensive online brain anatomic resource, including a cryomacrotome anatomic atlas and composite MRI atlas. These databases, along with existing and ongoing genotyping and phenotyping of the species in healthy and disease states at Virscio and by others is rapidly establishing the St. Kitts green monkey as the most comprehensively characterized NHP for systems biology and genomic and epigenomic research to inform understanding of human disease and therapeutic response.
Matt is a Virscio co-founder and is responsible for design and execution of Virscio’s preclinical programs and associated alignment of team expertise and capabilities to ensure efficient translation of sponsor programs to meet development objectives. Matt has over thirty years of experience in nonhuman primate research and over fifteen years of experience designing, executing and leading industry and NIH funded R&D programs that leverage Virscio’s translational platform to de-risk promising therapeutic candidates. Matt has been instrumental in the design and execution of preclinical programs for a wide range of academic groups, venture-backed start-ups, and publicly traded biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Matt received a BA in Biology and Geology from Harvard College, PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellow, and MD from Yale School of Medicine. Matt completed his internship in medicine at the University of Hawaii and ophthalmology residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and is an Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow.
Close
Christopher Stanley
Chief Business Officer & Chief Financial Officer
Chris is a Virscio co-founder and life sciences executive and entrepreneur with over fifteen years of experience in financing, building, operating and supporting companies developing and commercializing biomedical research innovations. Chris oversees corporate strategy, business development, financing and investing activities associated with the development and commercialization of Virscio’s translational R&D platform. Under Chris’ leadership, Virscio has executed a finance and commercial plan that has positioned the company for significant and sustainable organic growth without the need for institutional financing. Prior to co-founding Virscio, Chris held positions at Accenture within the Corporate Transaction Services group where he focused on evaluating and structuring complex outsourcing, joint-venture, and equity investment transactions, and was an analyst in the Global Markets Group at JPMorgan Chase. Chris received his BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Close
Rob Goody
Chief Technology Officer
Rob is a diversely trained principal scientist with over 15 years of experience developing and advancing a wide array of preclinical programs. As Chief Technology Officer, Rob leads the design and implementation of Virscio’s research platforms and manages IT, research, data management and operations teams. Rob directs Virscio’s U.S. facility in New Haven, CT. Rob received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Surrey, England and completed postdoctoral appointments in neurobiology and neurovirology at the University of Kentucky and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, respectively. Rob also brings direct pharmaceutical industry experience in pharmacology and drug metabolism and extensive experience in neuroscience, ophthalmology, virology and immunology. Rob additionally plays a key role in developing and advancing Virscio’s preclinical service strategy and implementation of associated technologies.
Close
Sven Korte
Senior Director of Research and Safety Assessment
Sven has more than 25 years of experience as a Senior Study Director LabCorp’s Early Development Services group, based in Münster, Germany. During his tenure, Dr. Korte oversaw sponsor engagement and study execution of more than 220 studies and has become a globally recognized key opinion leader in preclinical safety assessment across a wide range of therapeutic modalities, with extensive expertise in antisense oligonucleotides and gene therapy products using nonhuman primates (NHP). Dr. Korte has participated in more than 110 professional publications and lectured at numerous research symposiums and congresses across the globe. In addition, he has contributed to several books on the role of NHPs in drug development and was the co-editor of “The Nonhuman Primate in Nonclinical Drug Development and Safety Assessment."
Close
Shervin Liddie
Director of Scientific Execution
Shervin brings over fifteen years of experience in nonhuman primate research to his responsibilities coordinating translational test system advancement and application. Shervin’s interests and experience span CNS, metabolic, cardiovascular and ophthalmic disease modeling and pharmacokinetic and safety assessments. He earned his BS in Biology at the Southern Connecticut State University and his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where his work focused on evaluating learning and memory mechanisms involved in addiction. As Director of Translation at Virscio, Shervin conducts and oversees studies related to the development, refinement and validation of translational models and their characterization.
Close
Ben Culp
Director of Research Operations
Ben has four decades of preclinical operations management experience in top tier GLP and AAALAC-accredited facilities. As the Director of Research Operations, Ben is responsible for the scheduling of all projects, which includes the provision of animal resources, directing technical staff, and vivarium logistics. Ben and the veterinary team ensure that Virscio meets the rigorous animal care standards of AAALAC at our St. Kitts testing facility, which has successfully achieved multiple cycles of program re-accreditation. Residing full time on St. Kitts, Ben serves as a central point of contact for all Study Directors. Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development.
Close
John Elsworth
Principal Scientist
John has over thirty years of experience in developing in vivo models of CNS diseases and evaluating novel strategies for their treatment. Disorders targeted include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, drug abuse, and exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors in studies that have involved biochemical, neurochemical, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and behavioral endpoints. John received his PhD and postdoctoral training at University of London, England, before being recruited to the faculty at Yale University, and joining the Virscio team.
Close
Merissa O’Connor
Research Scientist
Merissa is a diversely experienced Study Director. As a member of Virscio’s surgical and clinical team Merissa oversees and is procedurally involved in studies from initiation through completion of in-life and finalization of reports, applying expertise in ophthalmic and physical evaluation, tissue dissection and surgical and diagnostic procedures. Experience spans CNS surgical modeling, VAP placement, laparotomies, laparoscopic procedures, femoral and coronary access, ECG interpretations, slit lamp biomicroscopy and ultrasound image acquisition and analysis and many further clinical and technical capabilities contributing to effective application of the Virscio platform. Merissa received her BS from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and her MD at the Medical University of the Americas.
Close
Michael Weed
Principal Scientist
Michael has over twenty years of experience in nonhuman primate translational model development. Michael has approached drug development within academic, pharmaceutical industry and contract research environments and brings this breadth of experience to each Virscio study. Michael received his PhD in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Chicago and completed post-doctoral positions at the Scripps Research Institute and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he was subsequently an Assistant Professor. Michael transitioned to leadership roles as Principal Scientist in discovery programs at Bristol Myers Squibb Neuroscience and Genetically Defined Disease departments prior to joining the Virscio team.
Close
Our Reach
Our Sponsors
Virscio conducts critical translational studies for sponsors and collaborators across the globe.
Our Locations
Virscio maintains state-of-the-art research facilities at two locations to meet client needs. Data management, sample logistics, wet lab analytics and administrative operations are headquartered in Science Park, New Haven, Connecticut. Vivarium and in-life study operations are based in St. Kitts, West Indies, a highly accessible and hospitable primate source country, home to an abundance of introduced African green monkeys.
Our Affiliations
In addition to serving the R&D needs of innovative organizations around the world, Virscio is a proud member of many industry organizations that share our mission of advancing biomedical innovation and improving clinical outcomes.
Careers
Virscio is seeking experienced, creative, and highly motivated individuals with the ability to lead and contribute to multidisciplinary R&D initiatives supported by leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
To explore positions for which we are actively seeking candidates, please visit our careers page here.
Define Your Development Path
We’re ready to help you optimize your path to clinical success. Populate the information below and our team will be in touch shortly.
: * By opting in for emails you will receive occasional emails detailing expansions to our service offerings and upcoming events
