Nonhuman Primate Models and Developmental Neuronal Toxicity

The existing data from research using rodent models have implicated some drugs as being toxic to the developing brain, even causing cognitive deficits in later life. However, there are no data providing evidence that the clinical use of these drugs is associated with signs of developmental neurotoxicity. This Editorial focuses on how use of the developing nonhuman primate, when combined with biochemical, pathological, pharmacokinetic, dynamic molecular imaging approaches and cognitive assessments, might provide a bridging model and, thus, serve to provide the most expeditious approach toward decreasing the uncertainty in extrapolating preclinical data to the human condition.