SG can provide a whole suite of services to validate gene function in different cell signaling pathways. Proteins and antibodies are generated in-house to facilitate in vitro and in vivo target validations. Animal models can be established with IVIS (in vivo imaging system). 

Shanghai Genomics is one of the first companies/institutes in China to utilize the power of real time in vivo imaging technology using bacteria/cell/mouse labeled with luciferase gene to track and monitor the disease progress and to understand the mechanism of action of drug candidates in living animals. The in vivo imaging technology has been widely accepted by the industry and the data generated by IVIS systems have been included in the IND filings with FDA.

The scientists at SG have generated various firefly luciferase labeled mouse and human tumor cell lines. These cells produce visible light which can be detected by an ultra sensitive CCD camera, upon the presence of the substrate luciferin in cell culture medium or in the living animals. The mouse animal models available at SG include the traditional subcutaneous (xenograft) models, intravenous and intraperitoneal models, and moreover, the advanced and unique intracardiac and orthotopic models.

Shanghai Genomics provides services for customer animal model development using luciferase-labeled cell lines, and also the efficacy tests of drug candidates in the available animal models. A typical drug efficacy experiment will have 5 groups of animals with each group of 3 to 6 of nude or SCID mice. Usually there are three doses of drug candidates to be tested, one reference compound and one sham control. The disease progress in the animals inoculated with luciferase-labeled cell lines can be monitored by the IVIS system in real time in live animals. Upon the completion of the experiment, any possible metastases of tumor which are visualized by ex vivo IVIS imaging of the major organs of the sacrificed mice will be verified by traditional histopathological analysis.