Genetically Modified Primate Models for Brain Disorder Research
Yi Yang1,2 · Jianbang Lin1,2 · Mengqi Li1 · Lixin Yang1,2,3 · Zhonghua Lu1,2,3 · Ting Yan1,2,3
1 Research Center for Primate Neuromodulation and Neuroimaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
3 State Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging Science and System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
Abstract
Brain disorders have imposed an escalating socioeconomic burden in recent years, yet critical gaps persist in understanding their pathogenesis and developing effective therapies. Nonhuman primate (NHP) models provide invaluable insights into human brain disorders due to their unique neuroanatomical and neurophysiological similarities with humans. Here, we review the current landscape of genetically modified NHP-based research in brain disorders, emphasizing the pivotal role of gene editing in disease modeling and the distinct advantages of transgenic NHP models in deciphering disease mechanisms. While key mechanistic questions and technical hurdles remain, NHP models hold immense promise in overcoming challenges and accelerating the development of therapeutics for brain disorders.
Keywords
Brain disorders; Animal models; Nonhuman primates; Gene editing
