# Pre Clinical Discovery Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $222,943

## Abstract

Summary
The preclinical studies are necessary for target identification and validation, for testing mechanistic
hypotheses, and for initial proof-of-concept studies in appropriate pre-clinical animal models and represent an
essential pre-requisite for advancing function promoting therapies (FPTs) to human trials. An important aspect
of translational research in model organisms is the underlying assertion that the physiological processes that
are evaluated in animal models are sufficiently similar to conditions observed in humans to allow dose and
effect extrapolation. Additionally, for the outcomes of preclinical studies to be meaningfully interpreted,
measurements must be reproducible, accurate, and sufficiently similar to the conditions observed in humans.
Accordingly, the Boston OAIC has established a Preclinical Discovery Core that offers standardized
procedures and state-of-the-art equipment for the analysis of muscle performance and physical function,
muscle bioenergetics, and non-invasive imaging and whole body metabolic outcomes. The PDC provides
standardized, state-of-the-art methods and instruments to assess body composition (lean body mass, whole
body and regional fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, functional microscopy of the muscle using high resolution
magnetic resonance imaging) in animal models of aging and disease to quantify outcomes in response to
function promoting therapies. The PDC also offers consultative services to early career investigators to
optimize study design, and guide the selection of appropriate experimental model and outcome measures.
The PDC has established standardized procedures for training and certification of its staff involved, and for
maintaining strict quality control in its procedures. The standard operating procedures have been approved by
the IACUCs of the participating institutions to enable streamlined transfer of animals from the participating
laboratory to the PDC facility. The PDC continues to innovate and provide novel measurement modalities to
facilitate FPT discovery. The PDC leadership has worked closely with equipment manufacturers to continually
refine the methods and improve the temporal resolution (signal to noise ratio), precision, and sensitivity of the
techniques that it offers. The proposed developmental project will apply an ultra-high-field 7-tesla Magnetic
Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) method for the non-invasive measurement of NAD+/NADH in the skeletal
muscle and brain enabling an in vivo assessment of mitochondrial efficiency without a tissue biopsy.
The PDC has become a unique resource for OAIC-funded REC and PESC projects, and for externally-funded
OAIC projects that are using preclinical models for FPT discovery research. The PDC supported studies have
facilitated several successful NIH grant submissions and peer reviewed publications by OAIC investigators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470356
- **Project number:** 5P30AG031679-12
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Ravi Jasuja
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $222,943
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-09-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470356

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470356, Pre Clinical Discovery Core (5P30AG031679-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470356. Licensed CC0.

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