Hooke Laboratories is a full-service pre-clinical contract research organization (CRO) specializing in rodent models of inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Our motto is "First-class science at competitive prices". We focus on long-term customer relationships, aiming to minimize waste and overhead while generating robust, repeatable results for maximum scientific return from your investment.
Hooke was founded by immunologist Suzana Marusic, MD, PhD in 2007.
Customers come to Hooke not only to run their studies, but also for expertise and advice. Our scientists can help with model selection, study design, and interpretation of results, including investigating the mode of action of your compounds.
All work is performed at our Massachusetts facility, 30 minutes north of Boston/Cambridge (USA). Our customers include leading international pharmas, venture-funded biotechs, universities, and small startups. We’re proud that our focus on efficiency brings us customers from low-cost countries including China, India, and Mexico, while our study quality attracts customers from Kendall Square to California, Europe, and Asia.
Within our specialty, we believe we're the most active and respected CRO in the world.
We try to make working with Hooke as comfortable and flexible as working with your own in-house staff. We can do as much, or as little, work as you need.
For customers who need quick turnaround, we can usually start your project within two to four weeks of commitment. We report interim results during your study, so you can make changes or decide on analysis while your study is still running.
Our CRO FAQ outlines how to get started, and answers common questions. Please contact us at with questions or for a quotation.
This a partial list; if you need an analysis not listed, please contact us at . Also, see our EAE Analysis Options page.
We run all the following models regularly. Each was established at Hooke by a scientist with extensive experience in the relevant research area. We can also work with you - in some cases sharing costs - to develop new or optimized models.
For a quotation, questions, or information about models not listed, contact us at .
Listed alphabetically. Click links for additional detail and typical results.
MC903-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in C57BL/6 mice is an excellent model of human AD (eczema), a chronic inflammatory disease that causes itchy skin lesions.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Atopic dermatitis induced by MC903 in C57BL/6 mice | Atopic dermatitis is characterized by Th2-dominated skin inflammation and immunoglobulin E (IgE) hypersecretion in both humans and mice. |
CIA is the most commonly used animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The CIA model is usually run in DBA/1 mice, but the disease can also be induced in B10.R111 mice, B10.Q mice, and Lewis rats.
| Model | Treatment regimen | Pros/Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1 mice | Prophylactic | Treatment from immunization. Evaluates efficacy both during and after development of immune response. |
| Semi-therapeutic | Treatment starts when collagen booster is administered. Evaluates effects on B cell expansion, antibody production, and disease development. | |
| Therapeutic | Treatment starts at CIA onset. Evaluates efficacy after development of immune response. Least expensive, most stringent. |
These short term assays evaluate effects of compounds on cytokine production.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| LPS-induced cytokine production in vivo | Mice are injected with E. coli LPS after receiving test compound. Measures TNF, IL-6, and IL-10 serum concentration. Short & inexpensive; good large-scale screen for RA treatments prior to testing in CIA. |
| Ex vivo whole-blood LPS stimulation | Short ex vivo assay, suitable for drug screening. |
Evaluates compound effects on Th17 and Th1 cellular immune responses. Good predictive ability for EAE and CIA. Short.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) | Mice are immunized with mBSA emulsified in CFA, then challenged in footpad with soluble mBSA. Primary readouts are paw swelling and weight vs. PBS negative control. MPO activity and cytokines can be measured as well. |
The most commonly used mouse model of type 1 diabetes.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Diabetes in NOD mice | NOD mice spontaneously develop diabetes, with elevated blood glucose concentration normally detectable at 12 to 30 weeks of age. Primary readouts are blood glucose and histological analysis of pancreata. |
EAE is the most commonly used animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). Click here for an overview of EAE and a comparison of the models below.
Evaluates effect of compounds on T cell function, measured after in vitro antigen (re-) stimulation of spleen or LN cells. Provides insight into mechanism of action.
| Variant | Description |
|---|---|
| After restimulation with glatiramer acetate (GA) | Cells from mice immunized with glatiramer acetate are restimulated with GA. Compares ability of different GA lots to stimulate IL-2 production. |
| After restimulation of antigen-primed T cells | Immunized (antigen-primed) or naïve mice are treated in vivo. Cells from these mice are then (re-) stimulated in vitro, and cytokine production and proliferation measured. Cells can also be stimulated in the presence of test compounds. |
| After stimulation of naïve T cells |
Acute or chronic GvHD is induced in mice using allogeneic or xenogeneic grafts with or without irradiating recipient mice. The severity of GvHD is influenced by the number of cells transferred and the dose of irradiation used to facilitate donor cell engraftment.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Acute xenogeneic GvHD in NOG mice | NOG (NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Sug/JicTac) recipient mice may optionally be irradiated, and injected with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. |
| Chronic allogeneic GvHD in mice - under development (2023) | Cells from donor mice with mismatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or minor histocompatibility antigens are injected into recipient mice. Recipients may be irradiated before cell transfer to prevent graft rejection. |
This six day gut homing assay tests effects of compounds or antibodies on cultured T cell homing.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Gut homing of cultured T cells | T cells from CD45.1+ donor mice are enriched, cultured with anti-CD3/CD28 beads +/− a gut homing inducer (ATRA), and expanded. The two sets of cells are labelled and transferred 1:1 into CD45.2+ recipient mice. One day later cells from spleens, Peyer's patches, and lamina propria of the small intestines are isolated and the ratio of ATRA-treated CD45.1+ cells to untreated CD45.1+ cells (both originating from donor mice) is determined by flow cytometry. |
IBD is an inflammation of all or part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The most common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract (but most often colon and terminal ileum).
| Model | Pros/Cons |
|---|---|
| CD4+CD45RBhigh-induced colitis in SCID mice | Closest rodent model to IBD in humans. Good correlation to clinical efficacy in humans; excellent disease development in our hands. |
| Anti-CD40-induced colitis in RAG2KO mice | Short-term model dependent on the innate immune response. Rapid development of proinflammatory cytokines in serum and histopathology in the colon. |
| DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice - Effective April 2022, Hooke no longer runs or recommends this model. Click link for details. | Similar clinical observations and histopathology to human IBD. Short, robust, inexpensive. |
This seven day assay evaluates compound tolerance in mice or rats. It is used to establish tolerated doses prior to in vivo testing in disease models.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) | Mice or rats are administered test compounds at a range of doses, and observed for side effects. |
Short-term assay evaluates effect of test compounds on FcεRI (high-affinity IgE receptor) crosslinking and release of pro-inflammatory mediators.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) | PCA is induced in ear by sensitization with anti-DNP IgE monoclonal antibodies, followed by challenge with DNP-HSA (human serum albumin). Usually run in BALB/c mice. Readouts are ear thickness 1 hour after challenge injection, and Evans blue dye extravasation. |
Short-term assay used prior to compound testing in vivo to optimize dose, route, and frequency of compound administration.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetics (PK) | Mice or rats are administered one dose of compound. Plasma and tissue are collected at multiple timepoints after administration. |
Commonly used models of human psoriasis.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| IL-23 induced epidermal hyperplasia in C57BL/6 mice | Ears are injected with IL-23 for 4 days. Readouts are ear thickness, cytokine concentration in ear tissue, and histology. |
| Imiquimod-induced psoriasis in C57BL/6 mice | Imiquimod is applied to mouse backs and/or ears for 4 days. Readouts are skin thickness, cytokine concentration in skin tissue, histology, and flow cytometric analysis of ear tissue cells. |
Mouse models of primary Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects both salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in dry mouth and dry eyes.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| Sjögren's syndrome models | Hooke has recently established two models of Sjögren's syndrome, in NOD and in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice. These newly-established models will be run at a discounted rate for a limited time. Availability of C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice may impose a delay starting studies (please contact Hooke for wait time). |
SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease which can affect almost any organ. It is characterized by acute and chronic inflammation and the presence of circulating antinuclear antibodies.
| Model | Pros/Cons |
|---|---|
| SLE in MRL/lpr mice | Relatively short - typically only 6 to 8 weeks of treatment. Caused by a single mutation (unlike SLE in humans). |
| SLE in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice | Disease is polygenic and spontaneous, very similar to SLE in humans. Excellent predictive value for efficacy. Long model (18 to 20 weeks of treatment). |
This assay tests effects of potential therapeutics on B cell activation and differentiation, and antibody production.
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| T cell dependent antibody response (TDAR) assay | Tests effects of compounds on antibody production without the use of adjuvant. The assay is also used for immunotoxicity assessment. Treatment starts at time of immunization. |
Please contact us at with questions or for a detailed quotation.
Also, see our CRO FAQ for answers to common questions about doing business with Hooke.