Frequently Asked Questions

Neurexpert is a specialist CNS electrophysiology contract research organisation (CRO) based in Exeter, UK. Founded in 2011 by Stuart Neale PhD and Tom Salt PhD, we provide bespoke in vitro electrophysiology assays and scientific consultancy to pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, and academic researchers working in CNS drug discovery. Every project is led directly by our founders.

Neurexpert is founded and run by practising scientists — Stuart Neale PhD and Tom Salt PhD — who are directly involved in every project. Tom Salt is an Emeritus Professor at UCL, Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society, and co-author of over 200 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Nature and Science. Rather than simply delivering raw data, Neurexpert provides mechanistic interpretation that connects electrophysiological findings to clinical relevance. Every assay is bespoke, designed around the specific biology and stage of your programme.

The translational gap refers to the high failure rate of CNS drug candidates as they progress from in vitro screens to clinical trials. Many compounds that look promising in early assays fail because the initial data does not reflect how the compound behaves in real neuronal systems. Neurexpert addresses this by providing high-fidelity functional data from native brain tissue earlier in the discovery process — giving teams mechanistic clarity before committing to expensive in vivo studies or clinical development.

Neurexpert works with pharmaceutical companies, biotech organisations, and academic institutions that need specialist CNS electrophysiology expertise. Our clients range from early-stage drug discovery teams seeking target validation to established pharma partners requiring IND-enabling functional data and clinical biomarker studies.

Neurexpert is based in Exeter, UK, at The Mount, 72 Paris Street, Exeter, EX1 2JY. We work with clients worldwide, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies across Europe, North America, and beyond.

Neurexpert offers electrophysiology services across three levels of the nervous system:

Molecular — target characterisation using Xenopus oocyte expression and Two-Electrode Voltage Clamp (TEVC) for ion channels, GPCRs, and transporters.

Cellular — patch-clamp and sharp microelectrode recordings to profile neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and mechanism of action.

Network — extracellular field potential recordings and Multi-Electrode Array (MEA) assays for synaptic plasticity (LTP/LTD), network oscillations, and epilepsy models.

Neurexpert has a proven track record across psychiatry, epilepsy, neurodegeneration (including Alzheimer's disease), pain, ophthalmology, and cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia and ADHD. We also support precision medicine programmes involving rare channelopathies such as Dravet Syndrome and KCNQ-related disorders.

Two-Electrode Voltage Clamp (TEVC) in Xenopus laevis oocytes is the gold standard technique for characterising the pharmacology of ion channels, GPCRs, and transporters at the molecular level. The oocyte system provides an exceptionally clean, noise-free environment that isolates your target from endogenous interference. Its size allows for unrivalled recording stability, making it ideal for characterising slow-binding, use-dependent, or irreversible compounds, and for modelling patient-derived mutations in channelopathy programmes.

Yes. Neurexpert has extensive expertise in the precise characterisation of Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs) and Negative Allosteric Modulators (NAMs). We quantify their ability to shift agonist potency and efficacy, characterise receptor kinetics including activation, deactivation, and desensitisation, and determine whether modulation is occurring at the molecular, synaptic, or network level.

Yes. Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long-Term Depression (LTD) are the cellular foundations of learning and memory, and Neurexpert specialises in quantifying these in hippocampal and cortical circuits. We offer recordings across the Schaffer-collateral (CA3-CA1) pathway, Mossy Fiber and Perforant Path inputs, and cortical and thalamocortical pathways. These assays are particularly valuable for nootropic compound screening and for assessing whether a drug candidate can restore synaptic plasticity in disease models such as Alzheimer's or Fragile X.

Yes. Neurexpert offers a range of validated in vitro epilepsy models including 0-Mg²⁺, Picrotoxin, and 4-Aminopyridine seizure models for anti-epileptic drug (AED) screening. We also assess pro-convulsant liability in new chemical entities and support phenotypic rescue studies in tissue derived from genetic channelopathy models such as Dravet Syndrome and KCNQ-related disorders.

A Multi-Electrode Array (MEA) records from up to 96 sites simultaneously across a brain slice, allowing Neurexpert to map how drug-induced signals propagate across different anatomical layers. MEA is used for high-density spatial mapping of network dynamics, unbiased long-term monitoring of network health and drug-response stability, and throughput-efficient screening where spatial resolution is important.

Yes. Beyond running assays, Neurexpert provides high-level scientific consultancy throughout the drug discovery process — from initial target selection and study design through to regulatory positioning and clinical translation. We specialise in muscarinic (M1, M4) and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor targets, and can advise on assay strategy, biomarker development, and interpretation of complex electrophysiological data.

We primarily provide high-quality, non-GLP exploratory and discovery studies. While not for formal regulatory safety toxicology, our data follows strict internal quality controls and is designed to provide the mechanistic "Proof of Concept" (PoC) and functional data required for IND (Investigational New Drug) submissions and internal decision-making.

We have extensive experience with challenging compounds. We use optimized perfusion systems and can utilize specific vehicles (e.g., DMSO, cyclodextrins) or pre-incubation protocols to ensure effective tissue penetration, particularly for lipophilic candidates or slow-binding modulators.

Yes. While many labs record at room temperature for stability, Neurexpert can perform assays at physiological temperatures (32-37°C). This is critical for accurately characterizing temperature-sensitive processes like receptor kinetics, synaptic plasticity, and network oscillations (e.g., gamma).

Yes. We use network-level assays (MEA and field recordings) to screen for pro-convulsant activity or abnormal firing patterns. This "functional safety" screening can identify potential CNS side effects early, often before they appear in standard in vivo toxicology models.

While our core expertise is in native rodent tissue and oocyte expression systems, we can apply our electrophysiology platforms to human iPSC-derived neuronal cultures to validate that mechanisms of action observed in animal models translate to human cellular biology.

Gamma oscillations are frequently disrupted in patients with schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s. By measuring these in vitro, we provide a direct translational biomarker: if a compound restores these oscillations in our assays, it provides high confidence that similar effects may be measurable via EEG in clinical trials.

Timeline varies by complexity, but a typical "hit-to-lead" profiling study (e.g., TEVC or slice patch-clamp) usually takes 4–8 weeks from receipt of compound to final report. We provide interim data updates to allow for real-time adjustments to the study design.

No. All intellectual property, data, and insights generated specifically for your project are fully owned by the client. Our goal is to empower your discovery program with the data needed for successful patent filings and regulatory progress.

Our electrophysiology techniques are highly efficient. For most in vitro studies, we require only a few milligrams (typically 5–10 mg) of compound, making our services ideal for early-stage programs where material is limited.

Neurexpert can support programmes at any stage of drug discovery — from early target validation and hit identification through hit-to-lead progression, lead optimisation, IND-enabling studies, and functional biomarker development to aid clinical development. We tailor our assay design to the specific questions and requirements of each programme stage.

Neurexpert does not offer off-the-shelf solutions — every project begins with a conversation about your specific programme needs, target, and scientific questions. To get started, contact us via email at info@neurexpert.com, call +44 1392 949169, or use the contact form on our website. Our founders are directly involved in all initial discussions.