FlexBio - Contract research platform for skeletal muscle analyses

  • Project status: Active

Research area: Genomic Medicine > Muscle Research

FlexBio partners with academic and industry researchers to deliver comprehensive pre-clinical disease modelling and therapeutic screening services.

With over 15 years of expertise in both in vitro (tissue culture) and in vivo (pre-clinical mouse) skeletal muscle model analyses, we offer an end-to-end service that includes:

  • Ethical and institutional approvals
  • Complete data analysis packages
  • Detailed, customisable reports

With over 15 years of expertise in both in vitro (tissue culture) and in vivo (pre-clinical mouse) skeletal muscle model analyses, we offer an end-to-end service that includes:

  • Ethical and institutional approvals
  • Complete data analysis packages
    • ...

With over 15 years of expertise in both in vitro (tissue culture) and in vivo (pre-clinical mouse) skeletal muscle model analyses, we offer an end-to-end service that includes:

  • Ethical and institutional approvals
  • Complete data analysis packages
  • Detailed, customisable reports

What we offer

Pre-clinical animal model testing

Screen and validate potential therapeutic candidates with key in vivo proof-of-concept data, including:

  • Voluntary Muscle Function
    Grip strength and wheel running assessments

  • Isolated Muscle Function
    Whole muscle, fibre bundle, or single fibre contractile function

  • Nerve-Evoked Muscle Function
    Force generation assays to evaluate in situ muscle performance, damage susceptibility, and fatigue response

2D & 3D Skeletal muscle modelling

Using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived muscle models, we offer advanced profiling in both healthy individuals and patients with genetically confirmed muscle diseases.

Available disease models include:

  • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
  • Nemaline Myopathy
  • Severe X-linked Myotubular Myopathy
  • Collagen VI Muscular Dystrophy
  • Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)

Why FlexBio?

Our detailed disease modelling platforms provide a unique opportunity for collaborators to generate cutting-edge data that supports the development of therapies aimed at improving skeletal muscle function and performance.

Our research team

Dr Peter Houweling
Team Leader at MCRI

Dr Leon Kiriaev
Research Officer at MCRI

Dr Ian Woodcock
Paediatric Neurologist at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH)

Internationally recognised team of laboratory and clinical researchers with a combined 50 years experience in studying skeletal muscle. Over 50 scientific manuscripts, focused on skeletal muscle performance in health and disease and 20 International and National clinical trials to date.

FlexBio 1160x411

Contact us

Dr Peter Houweling
Team leader/ Senior Research Fellow
Email: