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Accelerating Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Through Translational Preclinical Research
Generating translational cardiovascular data that improves confidence in preclinical candidate selection
Franklin Biolabs is a preclinical cardiovascular CRO providing translational cardiology research services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical sponsors. Our scientific team supports drug discovery and development programs across heart failure, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, vascular disease, hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, metabolic cardiovascular disorders, and emerging gene and cell therapies through validated animal models, biomarker analysis, pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), histopathology, imaging, and functional cardiovascular assessments.
End-to-End Support to Accelerate Transformative Cardiovascular Pipelines
Franklin Biolabs provides preclinical cardiovascular research services that help biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies advance therapies for cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. Our scientists design and execute customized studies that generate robust efficacy, mechanistic, and translational data to support critical development decisions.
In Vivo Pharmacology
Evaluating Therapeutic Efficacy in Relevant Cardiovascular Models
Successful cardiovascular drug development requires clear evidence that a therapeutic candidate produces meaningful biological, functional, and disease-modifying effects. Franklin Biolabs provides customized in vivo pharmacology studies designed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, characterize dose-response relationships, and assess target engagement across a broad range of disease-relevant cardiovascular models.
Our scientists collaborate closely with sponsors to design and execute studies that generate robust, reproducible, and decision-enabling data. By integrating disease-relevant models with translational endpoints, we help advance programs from early proof-of-concept through candidate selection and preclinical development.
Our capabilities include:
- Proof-of-concept and therapeutic efficacy studies
- Dose-ranging and dose-response characterization
- Disease progression and disease-modification assessment
- Customized study design and protocol development
- Rodent models of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease
- Large animal cardiovascular models, including porcine and canine studies
- Models of heart failure, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis, and vascular disease
- Transgenic and genetically engineered models for disease-specific mechanisms
- Longitudinal study designs supporting preclinical decision-making
Cardiovascular Drug Delivery & Administration
Enabling Precise Therapeutic Delivery
Successful cardiovascular therapeutic development often depends on accurate and reproducible delivery to target tissues. Franklin Biolabs provides expertise in specialized administration techniques across multiple species, supporting studies involving biologics, small molecules, gene therapies, RNA therapeutics, cell therapies, and advanced delivery platforms.
Our capabilities include:
- Intravenous administration
- Intracoronary administration
- Intramyocardial administration
- Catheter-based delivery procedures
- Systemic administration
- Image-guided dosing procedures
- Support for biologics, small molecules, viral vectors, RNA therapeutics, and regenerative medicine platforms
Functional Cardiovascular Assessment
Measuring Outcomes That Matter
Functional cardiovascular endpoints provide some of the most meaningful indicators of therapeutic benefit in cardiovascular research. Franklin Biolabs offers cardiovascular physiology and functional assessment services that evaluate cardiac performance, vascular function, hemodynamics, and disease progression across a variety of cardiovascular disease models.
By integrating functional outcomes with molecular biomarkers, PK/PD analyses, imaging, and histopathological findings, we help sponsors develop a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic activity, from target engagement and biological response to improvements in cardiovascular function. This integrated approach strengthens translational confidence and supports informed candidate selection and preclinical development decisions.
Our capabilities include:
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Blood pressure assessment
- Cardiac function evaluation
- Vascular reactivity assessment
- Exercise tolerance and stress testing
- Functional outcome measures
Bioanalysis, Biomarkers & PK/PD
Connecting Drug Exposure to Biological Activity
Generating translational data is critical for understanding how therapies engage their targets and produce meaningful pharmacological effects. Franklin Biolabs provides integrated biomarker and PK/PD support to help sponsors characterize mechanism of action, establish exposure-response relationships, and strengthen confidence in candidate selection.
Our approach combines pharmacokinetic evaluation, pharmacodynamic assessment, target engagement strategies, and biomarker analysis to establish clear relationships between drug exposure, biological response, and efficacy outcomes.
Our capabilities include:
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
- PK analysis
- PD assessment
- Exposure-response analysis
- Target engagement
- Cardiovascular pharmacology assessment
Biomarker Analysis
- Cardiac injury biomarkers
- Heart failure biomarkers
- Inflammatory biomarkers
- Fibrosis biomarkers
- Thrombosis and coagulation biomarkers
- Translational biomarker selection
Bioanalysis
- Plasma and tissue bioanalysis
- LC-MS/MS drug quantification in plasma, serum, cardiac tissue, and vascular tissue
Biodistribution
- Biodistribution studies
- Tissue distribution analysis
- Vector genome quantification (qPCR/ddPCR)
- Cardiac and vascular tissue targeting assessment
Immunogenicity
- Anti-drug antibody (ADA) testing
- Humoral immune response
- Cellular immune response
- Titer assays
- Shedding studies
Preclinical Cardiovascular Imaging
Visualizing Therapeutic Distribution, Disease Progression & Response
Advanced imaging technologies complement biomarker and PK/PD analyses by providing non-invasive assessment of therapeutic distribution, target engagement, disease progression, procedural accuracy, and treatment response. Franklin Biolabs offers preclinical imaging capabilities that support translational cardiovascular research by helping sponsors correlate imaging findings with molecular, pharmacological, and functional endpoints throughout preclinical development.
Imaging also enables longitudinal evaluation of disease progression and therapeutic response within the same subjects, strengthening translational confidence while supporting efficacy studies, biodistribution assessments, image-guided procedures, and surgical verification.
Our capabilities include:
- Echocardiography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Ultrasound imaging
- Fluoroscopy
- Vascular imaging
- Longitudinal imaging assessments
- Imaging biomarker evaluation
- Image-guided procedures
Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology
Assessing Cardiovascular Safety and Functional Risk
Comprehensive safety evaluation is essential for advancing cardiovascular therapeutics toward clinical development. Franklin Biolabs provides cardiovascular-focused toxicology and safety pharmacology services designed to assess cardiac function, hemodynamic responses, vascular effects, and potential treatment-related adverse findings.
Our capabilities include:
- Cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies
- General toxicology with cardiovascular-focused endpoints
- Cardiac electrophysiology assessment
- Hemodynamic safety evaluation
- Arrhythmia risk assessment
- Cardiotoxicity studies
Cardiovascular Pathology & Tissue Analysis
Understanding Biological Impact
Comprehensive safety evaluation is essential for advancing ophthalmic therapeutics toward clinical development. Franklin Biolabs provides ophthalmology-focused toxicology and safety assessment services designed to evaluate ocular tolerability, visual function, local tissue responses, and potential treatment-related adverse findings.
Our capabilities include:
- Histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- Tissue biomarker analysis
- Cardiac fibrosis assessment
- Vascular pathology evaluation
- Quantitative pathology
- Cellular and molecular characterization
- Cardiac and vascular tissue analysis
In Vivo Pharmacology
Evaluating Therapeutic Efficacy in Relevant Cardiovascular Models
Successful cardiovascular drug development requires clear evidence that a therapeutic candidate produces meaningful biological, functional, and disease-modifying effects. Franklin Biolabs provides customized in vivo pharmacology studies designed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, characterize dose-response relationships, and assess target engagement across a broad range of disease-relevant cardiovascular models.
Our scientists collaborate closely with sponsors to design and execute studies that generate robust, reproducible, and decision-enabling data. By integrating disease-relevant models with translational endpoints, we help advance programs from early proof-of-concept through candidate selection and preclinical development.
Our capabilities include:
- Proof-of-concept and therapeutic efficacy studies
- Dose-ranging and dose-response characterization
- Disease progression and disease-modification assessment
- Customized study design and protocol development
- Rodent models of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease
- Large animal cardiovascular models, including porcine and canine studies
- Models of heart failure, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis, and vascular disease
- Transgenic and genetically engineered models for disease-specific mechanisms
- Longitudinal study designs supporting preclinical decision-making
Cardiovascular Drug Delivery & Administration
Enabling Precise Therapeutic Delivery
Successful cardiovascular therapeutic development often depends on accurate and reproducible delivery to target tissues. Franklin Biolabs provides expertise in specialized administration techniques across multiple species, supporting studies involving biologics, small molecules, gene therapies, RNA therapeutics, cell therapies, and advanced delivery platforms.
Our capabilities include:
- Intravenous administration
- Intracoronary administration
- Intramyocardial administration
- Catheter-based delivery procedures
- Systemic administration
- Image-guided dosing procedures
- Support for biologics, small molecules, viral vectors, RNA therapeutics, and regenerative medicine platforms
Functional Cardiovascular Assessment
Measuring Outcomes That Matter
Functional cardiovascular endpoints provide some of the most meaningful indicators of therapeutic benefit in cardiovascular research. Franklin Biolabs offers cardiovascular physiology and functional assessment services that evaluate cardiac performance, vascular function, hemodynamics, and disease progression across a variety of cardiovascular disease models.
By integrating functional outcomes with molecular biomarkers, PK/PD analyses, imaging, and histopathological findings, we help sponsors develop a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic activity, from target engagement and biological response to improvements in cardiovascular function. This integrated approach strengthens translational confidence and supports informed candidate selection and preclinical development decisions.
Our capabilities include:
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Blood pressure assessment
- Cardiac function evaluation
- Vascular reactivity assessment
- Exercise tolerance and stress testing
- Functional outcome measures
Bioanalysis, Biomarkers & PK/PD
Connecting Drug Exposure to Biological Activity
Generating translational data is critical for understanding how therapies engage their targets and produce meaningful pharmacological effects. Franklin Biolabs provides integrated biomarker and PK/PD support to help sponsors characterize mechanism of action, establish exposure-response relationships, and strengthen confidence in candidate selection.
Our approach combines pharmacokinetic evaluation, pharmacodynamic assessment, target engagement strategies, and biomarker analysis to establish clear relationships between drug exposure, biological response, and efficacy outcomes.
Our capabilities include:
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
- PK analysis
- PD assessment
- Exposure-response analysis
- Target engagement
- Cardiovascular pharmacology assessment
Biomarker Analysis
- Cardiac injury biomarkers
- Heart failure biomarkers
- Inflammatory biomarkers
- Fibrosis biomarkers
- Thrombosis and coagulation biomarkers
- Translational biomarker selection
Bioanalysis
- Plasma and tissue bioanalysis
- LC-MS/MS drug quantification in plasma, serum, cardiac tissue, and vascular tissue
Biodistribution
- Biodistribution studies
- Tissue distribution analysis
- Vector genome quantification (qPCR/ddPCR)
- Cardiac and vascular tissue targeting assessment
Immunogenicity
- Anti-drug antibody (ADA) testing
- Humoral immune response
- Cellular immune response
- Titer assays
- Shedding studies
Preclinical Cardiovascular Imaging
Visualizing Therapeutic Distribution, Disease Progression & Response
Advanced imaging technologies complement biomarker and PK/PD analyses by providing non-invasive assessment of therapeutic distribution, target engagement, disease progression, procedural accuracy, and treatment response. Franklin Biolabs offers preclinical imaging capabilities that support translational cardiovascular research by helping sponsors correlate imaging findings with molecular, pharmacological, and functional endpoints throughout preclinical development.
Imaging also enables longitudinal evaluation of disease progression and therapeutic response within the same subjects, strengthening translational confidence while supporting efficacy studies, biodistribution assessments, image-guided procedures, and surgical verification.
Our capabilities include:
- Echocardiography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Ultrasound imaging
- Fluoroscopy
- Vascular imaging
- Longitudinal imaging assessments
- Imaging biomarker evaluation
- Image-guided procedures
Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology
Assessing Cardiovascular Safety and Functional Risk
Comprehensive safety evaluation is essential for advancing cardiovascular therapeutics toward clinical development. Franklin Biolabs provides cardiovascular-focused toxicology and safety pharmacology services designed to assess cardiac function, hemodynamic responses, vascular effects, and potential treatment-related adverse findings.
Our capabilities include:
- Cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies
- General toxicology with cardiovascular-focused endpoints
- Cardiac electrophysiology assessment
- Hemodynamic safety evaluation
- Arrhythmia risk assessment
- Cardiotoxicity studies
Cardiovascular Pathology & Tissue Analysis
Understanding Biological Impact
Comprehensive safety evaluation is essential for advancing ophthalmic therapeutics toward clinical development. Franklin Biolabs provides ophthalmology-focused toxicology and safety assessment services designed to evaluate ocular tolerability, visual function, local tissue responses, and potential treatment-related adverse findings.
Our capabilities include:
- Histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- Tissue biomarker analysis
- Cardiac fibrosis assessment
- Vascular pathology evaluation
- Quantitative pathology
- Cellular and molecular characterization
- Cardiac and vascular tissue analysis
Franklin Biolabs Supports Drug Discovery and Development Programs Across a Broad Spectrum of Cardiovascular Indications, Including:
- Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Cardiac fibrosis
- Post-myocardial infarction remodeling
- Myocardial infarction
- Ischemia-reperfusion injury
- Coronary artery disease
- Microvascular dysfunction
- Atherosclerosis
- Peripheral artery disease
- Vascular inflammation
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Systemic hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Obesity-related cardiovascular disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications
- Arterial thrombosis
- Venous thrombosis
- Antithrombotic therapies
- Gene therapy applications
- Cell and regenerative therapies
- Novel cardiovascular targets
Why Franklin Biolabs?
Scientific Partnership
- Work directly with experienced scientists who understand cardiovascular drug development challenges.
Customized Study Design
- Studies are built around the biology of your program rather than forcing your asset into a standardized workflow.
Translational Focus
- Our objective is not simply generating data. We focus on producing results that improve decision-making and reduce development risk.
Responsive Execution
- Drug developers need flexibility, speed, and scientific collaboration. Franklin provides a CRO experience designed around those needs. Our team develops study designs that generate meaningful translational endpoints aligned with sponsor objectives.
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The cell and gene therapy industry in the Philadelphia area is vibrant and exciting, bolstered by a robust ecosystem. Join the Franklin Biolabs team for a fulfilling career in a leading life sciences hub.
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