Webinar Alert! Assessing the Use of Non-Human Primates in Translational Research Today Register Today!
Accelerating Ophthalmic Drug Discovery Through Translational Preclinical Research
Generating translational ocular data that improves confidence in preclinical candidate selection
Franklin Biolabs is a preclinical ophthalmology CRO providing translational vision research services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical sponsors. Our scientific team supports drug discovery and development programs across retinal diseases, glaucoma, corneal disorders, ocular inflammation, inherited retinal diseases, and emerging gene and cell therapies through validated animal models, ophthalmic imaging, biomarker analysis, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), histology, and functional vision assessments.
End-to-End Support to Accelerate Transformative Ophthalmology Pipelines
Franklin Biolabs provides preclinical ophthalmology research services that help biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies advance therapies for vision-threatening ocular diseases. Our scientists design and execute customized studies that generate robust efficacy, mechanistic, and translational data to support critical development decisions from early discovery through candidate selection and IND-enabling development.
In Vivo Pharmacology
Evaluating Therapeutic Efficacy in Relevant Ocular Models
Successful ophthalmic drug development requires clear evidence that a therapeutic candidate produces meaningful biological, structural, and functional improvements within the eye. 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 ophthalmic 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 clinically translatable endpoints, we help advance programs from 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, rabbit, porcine, canine, and nonhuman primate (NHP) models
- Models of retinal degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, AMD, and ocular inflammation
- Gene therapy and biologic evaluation studies
- Longitudinal study designs supporting preclinical decision-making
Ocular Drug Delivery & Administration
Enabling Precise Ocular Therapeutic Delivery
Successful ophthalmic therapeutic development often depends on accurate and reproducible delivery to targeted ocular tissues. Franklin Biolabs provides expertise in specialized ophthalmic administration techniques across multiple species, supporting studies involving biologics, small molecules, gene therapies, cell therapies, and advanced delivery platforms.
Our capabilities include:
- Intravitreal administration
- Subretinal administration
- Suprachoroidal administration
- Intracameral administration
- Topical ocular dosing
- Periocular and subconjunctival administration
- Systemic administration
- Image-guided ocular injection procedures
- Support for biologics, small molecules, viral vectors, cell therapies, and novel delivery platforms
Functional Vision & Ocular Assessment
Measuring Outcomes That Matter
Functional and structural endpoints provide critical indicators of therapeutic benefit in ophthalmic research. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive vision assessment services that evaluate retinal function, visual performance, intraocular pressure, and ocular health across a variety of 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 visual function.
Our capabilities include:
- Electroretinography (ERG)
- Optokinetic response (OKR) testing
- Visual acuity assessment
- Contrast sensitivity evaluation
- Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement
- Ocular surface assessments
- Functional vision outcome measures
Bioanalysis, Biomarkers & PK/PD
Connecting Drug Exposure to Biological Activity
Generating translational data is critical for understanding how therapies engage ocular 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 evaluation
- Ocular tissue pharmacokinetics
Biomarker Analysis
- Retinal biomarkers
- Ocular inflammation biomarkers
- Angiogenesis biomarkers
- Neuroprotection biomarkers
- Translational biomarker selection
Bioanalysis
- Plasma and ocular tissue bioanalysis
- LC-MS/MS drug quantification in vitreous, aqueous humor, retina, choroid, and plasma
Biodistribution
- Biodistribution studies
- Ocular tissue distribution analysis
- Vector genome quantification (qPCR/ddPCR)
- Gene expression analysis
Immunogenicity
- Anti-drug antibody (ADA) testing
- Humoral immune response assessment
- Cellular immune response evaluation
- Vector immunogenicity studies
Preclinical Ocular Imaging
Visualizing Therapeutic Distribution, Disease Progression & Response
Advanced imaging technologies provide non-invasive assessment of therapeutic distribution, retinal structure, disease progression, procedural accuracy, and treatment response. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive ophthalmic imaging capabilities that support translational 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:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Fundus photography
- Fluorescein angiography (FA)
- Indocyanine Green (ICG) angiography
- Fundus autofluorescence imaging
- OCT angiography (OCTA)
- Longitudinal imaging assessments
- Imaging biomarker evaluation
- Image-guided procedures
Toxicology & Ocular Safety Assessment
Assessing Safety and Functional Risk
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:
- Ocular safety pharmacology studies
- Ocular toxicology assessments
- Local tolerability studies
- Inflammation and immune response evaluation
- Retinal and optic nerve safety assessment
- Ophthalmic examinations and scoring
Ocular Histopathology & Tissue Analysis
Understanding Biological Impact
Histological and tissue-based analyses provide critical insight into ocular pathology and therapeutic response. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive ophthalmic pathology and tissue analysis services that help characterize treatment effects at the cellular and molecular level.Our scientists employ quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate retinal degeneration, vascular pathology, inflammation, tissue morphology, and biomarker expression, providing the biological context needed to support preclinical development decisions.
Our capabilities include:
- Ocular histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- In situ hybridization
- Tissue biomarker analysis
- Retinal and optic nerve evaluation
- Quantitative pathology
- Cellular and molecular characterization
- Ocular tissue analysis
In Vivo Pharmacology
Evaluating Therapeutic Efficacy in Relevant Ocular Models
Successful ophthalmic drug development requires clear evidence that a therapeutic candidate produces meaningful biological, structural, and functional improvements within the eye. 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 ophthalmic 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 clinically translatable endpoints, we help advance programs from 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, rabbit, porcine, canine, and nonhuman primate (NHP) models
- Models of retinal degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, AMD, and ocular inflammation
- Gene therapy and biologic evaluation studies
- Longitudinal study designs supporting preclinical decision-making
Ocular Drug Delivery & Administration
Enabling Precise Ocular Therapeutic Delivery
Successful ophthalmic therapeutic development often depends on accurate and reproducible delivery to targeted ocular tissues. Franklin Biolabs provides expertise in specialized ophthalmic administration techniques across multiple species, supporting studies involving biologics, small molecules, gene therapies, cell therapies, and advanced delivery platforms.
Our capabilities include:
- Intravitreal administration
- Subretinal administration
- Suprachoroidal administration
- Intracameral administration
- Topical ocular dosing
- Periocular and subconjunctival administration
- Systemic administration
- Image-guided ocular injection procedures
- Support for biologics, small molecules, viral vectors, cell therapies, and novel delivery platforms
Functional Vision & Ocular Assessment
Measuring Outcomes That Matter
Functional and structural endpoints provide critical indicators of therapeutic benefit in ophthalmic research. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive vision assessment services that evaluate retinal function, visual performance, intraocular pressure, and ocular health across a variety of 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 visual function.
Our capabilities include:
- Electroretinography (ERG)
- Optokinetic response (OKR) testing
- Visual acuity assessment
- Contrast sensitivity evaluation
- Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement
- Ocular surface assessments
- Functional vision outcome measures
Bioanalysis, Biomarkers & PK/PD
Connecting Drug Exposure to Biological Activity
Generating translational data is critical for understanding how therapies engage ocular 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 evaluation
- Ocular tissue pharmacokinetics
Biomarker Analysis
- Retinal biomarkers
- Ocular inflammation biomarkers
- Angiogenesis biomarkers
- Neuroprotection biomarkers
- Translational biomarker selection
Bioanalysis
- Plasma and ocular tissue bioanalysis
- LC-MS/MS drug quantification in vitreous, aqueous humor, retina, choroid, and plasma
Biodistribution
- Biodistribution studies
- Ocular tissue distribution analysis
- Vector genome quantification (qPCR/ddPCR)
- Gene expression analysis
Immunogenicity
- Anti-drug antibody (ADA) testing
- Humoral immune response assessment
- Cellular immune response evaluation
- Vector immunogenicity studies
Preclinical Ocular Imaging
Visualizing Therapeutic Distribution, Disease Progression & Response
Advanced imaging technologies provide non-invasive assessment of therapeutic distribution, retinal structure, disease progression, procedural accuracy, and treatment response. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive ophthalmic imaging capabilities that support translational 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:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Fundus photography
- Fluorescein angiography (FA)
- Indocyanine Green (ICG) angiography
- Fundus autofluorescence imaging
- OCT angiography (OCTA)
- Longitudinal imaging assessments
- Imaging biomarker evaluation
- Image-guided procedures
Toxicology & Ocular Safety Assessment
Assessing Safety and Functional Risk
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:
- Ocular safety pharmacology studies
- Ocular toxicology assessments
- Local tolerability studies
- Inflammation and immune response evaluation
- Retinal and optic nerve safety assessment
- Ophthalmic examinations and scoring
Ocular Histopathology & Tissue Analysis
Understanding Biological Impact
Histological and tissue-based analyses provide critical insight into ocular pathology and therapeutic response. Franklin Biolabs offers comprehensive ophthalmic pathology and tissue analysis services that help characterize treatment effects at the cellular and molecular level.Our scientists employ quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate retinal degeneration, vascular pathology, inflammation, tissue morphology, and biomarker expression, providing the biological context needed to support preclinical development decisions.
Our capabilities include:
- Ocular histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- In situ hybridization
- Tissue biomarker analysis
- Retinal and optic nerve evaluation
- Quantitative pathology
- Cellular and molecular characterization
- Ocular tissue analysis
Franklin Biolabs Supports Drug Discovery and Development Programs Across a Broad Spectrum of Ophthalmic Indications, Including:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Geographic atrophy
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic macular edema
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Stargardt disease
- Leber congenital amaurosis
- Gene therapy applications
- Primary open-angle glaucoma
- Normal-tension glaucoma
- Retinal ganglion cell degeneration
- Optic nerve disorders
- Uveitis
- Autoimmune ocular diseases
- Dry eye disease
- Corneal inflammation
- Corneal injury and repair
- Ocular surface disease
- Fibrotic disorders
- Innovative regenerative therapies
Why Franklin Biolabs?
Scientific Partnership
- Work directly with experienced scientists who understand the challenges of ophthalmic drug development.
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 and clinical relevance.
Featured Resources
Join Our Team of Experts
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.
Careers