An animal model with clinical features paralleling human conditions that recapitulates disease progression is an integral component for advancing biomedical research and the development of novel therapeutics. We have developed a transgenic nonhuman primate model of Huntington’s disease (HD monkeys) and longitudinal assessment using clinical measurements such as MR imaging, cognitive behavioural assessment and neuropathology reveal progressive development of HD similar to human HD patients suggesting that HD monkeys could be used as an animal model for studying HD pathogenesis and the development of biomarkers. Additionally, HD monkeys can be used as a large preclinical animal model for the development of novel treatment and therapeutics.

In summary, HD monkeys is a unique animal model for studying disease pathogenesis, progression and preclinical studies, which can make unprecedented contributions toward unravelling the molecular, cellular and clinical basis of inherited neurodegenerative diseases.

Support Office of Research and Infrastructure Program (ORIP)/NIH OD010930