Neuroscience
Accelerating neurobiological discovery - innovative viral vector solutions from discovery to functional validation.
Benefits of Using AAV
for Neuroscience Research
Precise Neuronal Targeting
For enabling refined mapping and manipulation of neural networks without off-target effects.
Stable Expression
AAV provides long-term gene expression in post-mitotic neurons and Adenovirus supports transient yet robust expression
Versatility in Neuroscience Tools
Viral vectors can deliver a wide range of payloads.
Efficient In Vivo Delivery
AAV can cross the blood–brain barrier with engineered variants, enabling widespread CNS transduction via systemic injection.
How Vectors Work
in Neuroscience
Viral vectors are key tools in neuroscience, delivering genes directly into neurons and glia to study brain function. They enable cell type– or region-specific expression using tailored capsids and promoters, and can drive either long-term or transient gene activity. Researchers use them to introduce reporters for neural circuit mapping, actuators for optogenetics or chemogenetics, or disease-related genes to model neurological disorders. By linking genetic modulation to observable changes in neural activity, behavior, or disease progression, viral vectors provide critical insights into the mechanisms underlying the nervous system and support the development of therapeutic strategies.
AAV for Neuroscience
Key Applications
of Viral Vectors in Neuroscience
Neural Circuit Mapping
Use AAV/AdV vectors with fluorescent reporters to trace pathways and connectivity in the brain, enabling researchers to chart how different regions communicate.
Optogenetics & Chemogenetics
Deliver actuators like Channelrhodopsin or DREADDs for precise, reversible control of neuronal activity, supporting functional studies of circuits and behavior.
Neurodegenerative Disease Modeling
Introduce or silence disease-related genes (e.g., APP, α-synuclein, SOD1) to build models of disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or ALS, and test therapeutic strategies.
Gene Therapy Research
Leverage AAV’s long-term expression and CNS tropism to deliver therapeutic genes or CRISPR tools into neurons and glia, advancing preclinical studies for genetic and acquired neurological conditions.
Why Use Vector Biolabs
Tailored for Neural Applications
Access capsids and promoters validated for neuronal and glial targeting, including variants with strong tropism for CNS delivery.
High-Quality Vectors
Every project includes full QC analytics (titer, purity, genome integrity) and injection-ready purification for reliable in vivo performance.
Expertise and Support
Vector Biolabs offers expert support, helping researchers optimize their disease modeling experiments.
Rapid Turnaround
Get research-grade AAV and AdV vectors in as little as 2–3 weeks, so your studies keep pace with tight experimental timelines.
Scalable Solutions
Whether for small-scale experiments or large-scale applications, we provide scalable vector production to suit the needs of various research projects.
Use Case
An academic customer wanted to knock down gene of interest in brain but was not equipped to perform brain stereotactic injections. Vector Biolabs team supported this customer in AAV serotype selection that would cross blood brain barrier (BBB) after intra-venous injection and target brain cells. VBL also guided the customer in selection of specific cell type promoter to restrain expression in target cells only. VBL then produced the BBB penetrating custom vector as well as control vector. Customer used the control vector to generate pilot data like optimum dose, expression analysis and study time course.
They successfully received funding using this pilot data and set on the path to research success.
They successfully received funding using this pilot data and set on the path to research success.
