A cure for Parkinson’s, faster, through the world’s best preclinical neuroscience.

For more than 20 years, Atuka has been providing preclinical services that expand the frontiers of Parkinson’s disease research, and helping to make new, life-changing therapeutics a reality.

We help our partners make informed, critical decisions at the interface between the preclinical and clinical, combining our unsurpassed neuroscience and Parkinson’s expertise with an industry-leading range of rodent and NHP models, and experience in gene therapy, to design the best-tailored program for any potential therapeutic.

Atuka provides its partners with the highest-quality studies and data, as interpreted by world-leading neuroscientists, to ensure results that are consistently predictive and translatable.

Atuka at a glance

Making a difference for patients, our partners, and the broader research community

Atuka’s lead scientists are responsible for numerous breakthroughs that have helped shape the direction of research in the field over the past three decades. Collectively they have published more than 300 peer-reviewed, highly-cited papers, and individually possess h-indices ranging from 25 to 70.

300+

therapeutics evaluated

30+

candidates proceeding to clinical trial

300+

peer-reviewed academic papers

40+

pre-clinical models

WHITE PAPER

Redefining Parkinson’s Disease

A primer on the emerging biological understanding of Parkinson’s and its possible impact on the development of novel therapeutics and disease modelling.

Biological classification and the future of therapeutics

DISCOVERY SERIES

#1 – D1 PAM

Read the first entry in our new series on the latest research on emerging targets in Parkinson’s Disease.

The Potential of D1 Dopamine Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators

News and insights

  • Atuka moves into North America’s largest urban innovation hub

    Atuka moves into North America’s largest urban innovation hub

    In a significant moment for Atuka, we have completed the move into our new offices and facilities in the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.

  • Expanding frontiers in neuroimmunology

    Expanding frontiers in neuroimmunology

    Jon Brotchie reports back with highlights from the recent Neuroimmunology Drug Development Summit in Boston, in particular how TREM2 is emerging as one of the most promising new targets for Parkinson’s, both in terms of mechanism and the variety of approaches we have to potentially manipulate it.

WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY

“Working with Atuka has been a highly satisfying experience! They exceeded our expectations in terms of quality, timeliness, and cost. Their knowledge and expertise in the Parkinson’s disease area were invaluable, helping us select and design in vivo models and obtain critical data to drive our projects toward success. We will definitely continue collaborating with Atuka as our program requires and recommend them to our peers without hesitation.”

– Kevin Fang, Chief Scientific Officer 
Ignis Therapeutics 

MEET THE ATUKA TEAM

Sahar Tamadon on her passion for neuroscience

Sahar Tamadon on her passion for neuroscience

Coming from a family of engineers in Tehran, Sahar Tamadon wanted to find her own niche.

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How a backyard mishap put Tom Johnston on his unexpected path to neuroscience

How a backyard mishap put Tom Johnston on his unexpected path to neuroscience

Atuka's COO went from a budding orchestral double bassist to world leading researcher in Parkinson's disease.

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Vidya Alexander on the human brain and the endless possibilities for discovery

Vidya Alexander on the human brain and the endless possibilities for discovery

A deep love of lab work is a big part of what drives Atuka senior researcher Vidya Alexander, along with a fascination for the potential discoveries still hidden in the human brain.

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Gregory Lops on blending creative vision with lab precision

Gregory Lops on blending creative vision with lab precision

Senior lab technician Gregory Lops credits much of his early interest in science to his mother, who worked as an elementary school science teacher.

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SERVICES & CAPABILITIES

Expanding the frontiers of research into neurodegenerative disorders

While our roots are in Parkinson’s research, Atuka has developed extensive preclinical experience developing therapies for numerous other indications—including cognitive disorders, ALS and other movement disorders such as dystonia and dyskinesia—across multiple modalities, such as biologics (including gene therapy) and small molecules.

  • Our services
  • Specialists in rodent and NHP preclinical efficacy and translational pharmacology studies
  • Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies for small molecules and biologics, including gene therapies
  • Support services, such as imaging, bioanalysis, etc
  • Surgical excellence supporting model development, gene therapy/biologic evaluation, targeting of brain structures, PM tissue collection
  • Bespoke endpoint assay development in addition to endpoints commonly employed in our models

Redefining innovation

Atuka is unique among contract research organizations. Not only do we provide our partners with industry-leading expertise in preclinical trial design and interpretation, but we are committed to ongoing scientific discovery in Parkinson’s disease and other disorders through an extensive internal research program, while actively contributing to and engaging with the scientific literature.  

Our sites and facilities

World class facilities, global connections

Our partners benefit from globally-recognized scientists using advanced technologies at leading-edge research and lab facilities in Canada and China.

Atuka is a world expert in NHP research and has the capacity to conduct both small and large studies that use up to 150 macaques at our newly renovated, AAALAC-accredited facility in Suzhou, China. We are able to perform studies no other CRO can, while adhering to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Suzhou, China

  • Macaque in vivo facility
  • In vivo imaging
  • Surgical studies
  • Bioanalytical services
  • Behavioural studies

Toronto, Canada

  • Rodent in vivo laboratory 
  • In vitro laboratory 
  • Administrative office 
Our partners

With a depth of preclinical experience unparalleled in our field globally, Atuka has collaborated with over 90 organizations, including large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, charitable foundations, universities, and government agencies.

TALK TO OUR EXPERTS

Advance your therapeutic program

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