Taconic Insights

By definition, cell therapy is the transfer of autologous or allogeneic cellular material into a patient for medical purposes. Although the technique was first explored in the late 19th century, it has only recently gained traction as a standard of care in the medical field. Global market share is estimated to expand from $9.5 billion in 2021 to $23 billion in 20281. With respect to immuno-oncology applications,...  Read More

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration in the primary motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord, which results in progressive muscular atrophy, weakness, and fatality1. Onset of this disease typically occurs in adulthood, and early symptoms are difficult to recognize given their similarity to other neurological disorders2. Incidence is most likely to occur between the ages of 60 and 79...  Read More

Cancer immunotherapies enhance the body's own immune system to control and eliminate tumors. Most clinical-stage immunotherapies target T cells of the adaptive immune system, especially cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Myeloid cells have risen to prominence as worthwhile targets for immunomodulation. Within the immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) significantly influence the activities of T cells and the outcome of T cell-targeting therapies. TAMs...  Read More

There are many factors that require consideration when designing any preclinical study, such as rodent model selection, housing conditions, treatment dosing schemes, and diet1. Exact specifications decided upon may, in some cases, be driven by availability or standard practices in the selected vivarium. In the case of lab animal diets, for example, it is typical of a vivarium to stock a particular diet and charge researchers for...  Read More

Since the launch of World Alzheimer's Month in 2012 by Alzheimer's Disease International, the prevalence of this disease has continued to climb. Today, approximately six million US patients are living with the disease. By 2050, an estimated 13 million people in the US will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease (AD)1. While the number of new cases per 100,000 is on the decline, due to better understanding of...  Read More

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a critical component of the immune system for regulating inflammatory responses. In the context of immune-mediated diseases, such as cancer or graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), Tregs can either drive or suppress disease pathogenesis. This two-sided role for Tregs and their impact on such a broad spectrum of diseases makes them an important focus of study in immuno-oncology and autoimmunity. Preclinical models of these...  Read More

Obesity causes metabolic dysfunctions that lead to debilitating chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. Diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents are popular models for studying obesity and pre-diabetes. In 1953, Fenton and Dowling manipulated nutrient composition across a range of refined rodent diets, demonstrating that inbred weanling mice could be induced to obesity on an accelerated timeline1. Since then, DIO mice have become staples...  Read More

Unique in its complexity, the central nervous system (CNS) has long represented a challenge for biomedical research, in part because the definition and characterization of constituent cell types remains incomplete. Indeed, one of the major goals behind the 2013 National Institutes of Health (NIH) launch of The Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative was to "identify and provide experimental access to the different brain cell...  Read More

Introduction to HLA and MHC An HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) or human MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) is a group of surface protein complexes that presents antigens to downstream immune cells to activate the adaptive immune system against foreign pathogens or injured cells. These molecules are critical for modulating T cell responses and play a major role in several autoimmune diseases including diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The...  Read More

February marks American Heart Month — a campaign aimed at educating citizens about the importance of cardiovascular health. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is encouraging visitors to their website to adopt heart-healthy behaviors through increasing exercise, as well as positive diet and lifestyle changes. Why Heart Month? Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women globally, accounting for about...  Read More