NeoThy™ Human Immune Engraftment Platform

Human adaptive immunity in a controlled in vivo system

 Coming Soon: NeoThy™ hIL-6 huNOG

Overview

The NeoThy™ Human Immune Engraftment Platform is designed to deliver physiologic human adaptive immune function in immunodeficient mice. The platform integrates engrafted neonatal human thymic tissue fragments with cord blood–derived CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to support human T cell development within a human thymic microenvironment and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) context.

Following implantation, thymic fragments (representing medulla and/or cortex regions with human thymic epithelial cells) vascularize and establish a functional thymic microenvironment in vivo. Human T cells undergo HLA-restricted positive and negative selection within this human thymic microenvironment, enabling peripheral immune reconstitution with functionally mature human T and B cell compartments.

Humanized mice generated using the NeoThy™ Platform demonstrate robust multilineage human immune cell engraftment and organized antigen recognition consistent with human adaptive immune biology.

Why the NeoThy™ Platform Matters

Humanized mouse systems based solely on HSC engraftment support hematopoietic reconstitution but lack a human thymic microenvironment for physiologic T cell education via selection.

The NeoThy™ Platform provides:

  • Human thymic microenvironment-mediated education supporting HLA-restricted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell development 
  • Organized antigen recognition and immune synapse formation
  • T cell–dependent humoral competency, including antigen-specific antibody responses
  • Reproducible and scalable with a secured IRB-approved human neonatal thymic tissue supply

Human thymic microenvironment-mediated HLA education enables functional adaptive (human) immunity


Human Thymic Microenvironment-Mediated T Cell Education
Engrafted human thymic tissue supports HLA-restricted CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell development.

 

 

HLA Class II-Restricted CD4+ T Cell Activation
More robust helper T cell antigen specificity and activation.

 

 

T Cell-Dependent Humoral Immune Function
CD4⁺ T cells help enable B cell activation, plasma cell differentiation, and antigen-specific antibody production.

 

Model Scope

As with all humanized mouse systems, immune architecture and maturation kinetics differ from human physiology and should be interpreted in the context of model design. The NeoThy™ Platform is intended to enhance translational insight in studies requiring human HLA-restricted adaptive immunity within a controlled in vivo framework.

How the NeoThy™ Platform Is Generated

  1. Thymic tissue implantation:
    Neonatal human thymic tissue is surgically implanted into the kidney capsule under controlled conditions in an immunodeficient host (e.g., NOG and derivative strains).
  2. Cord blood CD34⁺ HSC engraftment:
    Intravenous administration of CD34⁺ HSCs supports durable multilineage hematopoietic reconstitution.
  3. Human thymic microenvironment-supported thymopoiesis:
    Human T cell development proceeds within the vascularized thymic microenvironment.
  4. Peripheral adaptive immune reconstitution:
    Functional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells populate peripheral tissues and support T cell–dependent B cell activation. 
hela cells

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Applications

The NeoThy™ Platform supports translational studies requiring functional human adaptive immunity, including:

  • Immunogenicity assessment and anti-drug antibody (ADA) modeling
  • Vaccine response studies
  • Immuno-oncology research
  • Mechanistic immunology programs requiring HLA context

Frequently Asked Questions

The NeoThy™ Human Immune Engraftment Platform combines neonatal human thymus with cord blood–derived CD34⁺ HSCs to support HLA-restricted T cell development and functional adaptive immune responses in immunodeficient mice.

No. The NeoThy™ Platform utilizes neonatal thymic tissue obtained as surgically discarded material (medical waste) from medically necessary procedures, with appropriate consent and traceability. No fetal tissue is used.

The thymic microenvironment is derived from engrafted primary tissue fragments sourced from neonatal human thymus resections that would otherwise be discarded during medically-required pediatric cardiac surgeries. Tissue is ethically sourced and suitable for implantation.

No. Primary thymic fragments are implanted without in vitro expansion or manipulation. After implantation, thymic fragments vascularize and support sustained thymopoiesis within the host.

NeoThy™ Platform production strategies can incorporate HLA-matched or partially matched donor configurations depending on study design objectives. Matching considerations are discussed during study planning to align with translational goals and desired immune outcomes.

Published work using neonatal thymic tissue (e.g., Brown et al.) demonstrates that neonatal thymus yields substantially more usable tissue, enabling generation of multiple cohorts from a single donor. Exact cohort size depends on tissue availability, host background, and study configuration. On average, 40-100 mice can be generated per thymus donor

HSCs are isolated from umbilical cord blood, providing a clinically relevant and scalable source of human hematopoietic stem cells for multilineage immune reconstitution.

The NeoThy™ Platform supports HLA-restricted T cell development, cytokine production, and T cell–dependent B cell activation. Functional readouts may include antigen-specific antibody responses, immunogenicity assessment, and vaccine response modeling, depending on study design.

Engraftment and immune reconstitution characterization data are available upon request. Data on vaccine response and immunogenicity modeling are expected by April 2026. Researchers may register interest to receive updates as new datasets become available.

Yes. NeoThy™ mice are produced on demand. Lead time varies based on host strain configuration, donor availability, and study design requirements. Taconic provides project-specific timelines during consultation.

We have validated the NeoThy™ Platform with the hIL-6 NOG, but the platform can be applied generally to NOG or related immunodeficient backgrounds, including some cytokine transgenics, depending on study requirements. It is not recommended in NOG-EXL models. 

The recommended control for NeoThy™ animals are strain-matched and donor-matched HSC-engrafted but non-thymic engrafted animals (Thymus-/HSC +). For example, the control for NeoThy™hIL-6 huNOG is the hIL-6 huNOG. These can be produced at the same time that the NeoThy™ cohort is engrafted. Other controls (Thymus+/HSC- or Thymus-/HSC-) can be ordered based on study requirements. Taconic provides consultation to discuss the best controls for studies.

The NeoThy™ Platform is sold under license from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, subject to the purchase terms applicable to the selected host mouse model.

Possibly, depending on study objectives and design requirements. The NeoThy™ Platform can be incorporated into in vivo pharmacology studies where human adaptive immune function is central to the research question. Study feasibility, endpoints and design are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Contact Taconic to discuss your specific study requirements and determine whether the NeoThy™ Platform is appropriate for your research.

Yes.

Yes, we can ship to any facility that is approved for live animal shipments.

No MTA is required to purchase or use NeoThy™ engrafted mice.

Engage with the NeoThy™ Platform

  • Review representative immune reconstitution datasets
  • Discuss donor matching strategies
  • Design immunogenicity or vaccine studies
  • Evaluate host strain configurations and production timelines

NeoThy™ Platform
Human thymic T-cell education. Functional adaptive immunity. Controlled in vivo scalability.

NeoThy™ is a trademark of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The NeoThy™ Human Immune Engraftment Platform is made available by Taconic under license from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

 

References

  1.  Brown ME, Zhou Y, McIntosh BE, Norman IG, Lou HE, Biermann M, et al. A Humanized Mouse Model Generated Using Surplus Neonatal Tissue. Stem Cell Reports. 2018;10(4):1175-83.
  2.  Del Rio NM, Huang L, Murphy L, Babu JS, Daffada CM, Haynes WJ, et al. Generation of the NeoThy mouse model for human immune system studies. Lab Anim (NY). 2023;52(7):149-68.
  3.  Saha S, Haynes WJ, Seo J, Del Rio NM, Young EE, Zhang J, et al. Diminished immune cell adhesion in hypoimmune ICAM-1 knockout human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):7415.

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