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Pre-Clinical Sciences

Calves in a pasture

Pre-Clinical Sciences

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Pre-Clinical Sciences

Pre-Clinical Sciences

The RTI Research team excels at constructing a comprehensive approach tailored to execute on each client's specific study. 

  • Protocol development and construction

  • Animal procurement and flexible facility scheduling

  • Biosecure containment with exceptional animal husbandry and clinical care

  • Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (In-House) and welfare audited

  • Quality Assurance and Control with precise data integrity and full auditing

  • Clear, immediate and expert study communication

  • End of study reporting and scientific/manuscript writing

  • Electronic Data Capture competent

Our combined laboratory and clinical scientists provide a wide spectrum of animal trials including:

  • Small molecule, biopharma, and biologics proof of concept and efficacy
  • Vaccine and drug safety including full research pathology 
  • Duration of immunity, immunogenicity, shed/spread
  • Pharmacology efficacy and tissue residue
  • Feed additive efficacy and performance

For more information please send an email to info@4rtilab.com

Infectious Disease and Models

RTI's challenge models and pathogens are characterized in the literature and accepted by regulatory authorities worldwide as the standard by which many vaccines achieve approval and registration. Although a few of the challenge models with which we have the most experience are shown below, the list is not all-inclusive. If you don't see your pathogen and/or model, please contact us to see whether we have some experience with it or can develop it for your technology. 

  • BOVINE
    • Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), Types 1 & 2
    • BVDV/Mannheimia hemolytica Dual Challenge
    • Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)
    • Bovine Herpes Virus Type 1 (BHV), Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
    • Bovine Coronavirus
    • Bovine Rotavirus
    • Leptospirosis
  • SWINE
    • Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS)
    • Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHyo)
    • Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV)
    • Influenza A Virus
    • Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV)
    • E. coli (post-weaning diarrhea)
    • Erysipelas
  • POULTRY
    • Salmonella
    • E. coli
    • Coccidiosis
    • Marek's Disease
    • Infectious Bursal Disease

*RTI is very open to shared challenge model development beyond the abovementioned pathogens and species. 

Hoop Barn in Brookings, SD

Species, Facilities and Equipment

RTI is a USDA accredited research establishment with the ability to adapt nearly any facility to a sponsor's specific study needs.  All facilities are inspected by the authorities and sponsor welfare and QA groups, all are secure, and most are BSL2. 

Clinical Research Building (BSL-2)- 21,000 ft2 facility with 10 multipurpose, multispecies (from mice to cattle), and individually-ventilated rooms. 

  • Individual or group housing (bovine, porcine, sheep, goat, companion animal, poultry, lab animals)
  • Swine farrowing equipment and nursery pens
  • Poultry incubators, hatchers, HEPA isolators and floor pens
  • Full necropsy, animal processing/handling, and cooler
  • Small scale milking

Swine (KA, JR, White, CRB)

  • Two dedicated farrowing units
  • Two grow/finish barns
  • Three double L nurseries

Cattle

  • North 40 site (40 acre cattle/horse site)
  • Hoop barn (140 x 60ft), cattle feedlots and pens
  • More than 100 individual calf huts and large animal handling equipment

Poultry

  • Floor Pen, Cage, Biosecure Isolators
  • Incubators and Hatchers
  • Laying Boxes
    Img 0576

    Poultry Isolator

Supporting Equipment 

  • Tractors, feed & mixing wagons, skidsteers, chutes, incineration
  • Fleet of 13 biosecure study vehicles
  • Animal trailers, panels, penning, scales

Bioanalytical and Research Assays

RTI Research Labs provide expertise, equipment and in-house capability in a broad number of assays and formats including:

  • Assay Development and Validation
    • Immunofluorescence assays 
    • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  • Virology
    • Virus isolation and identification
    • Virus propagation and maintenance 
  • Microbiology
    • Aerobic and anaerobic culturing
    • Isolation and identification
    • Propagation and maintenance
    • Agglutination
    • Kirby-Bauer susceptibility
    • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) susceptibility testing
  • Immunology
    • Flow cytometry
    • Cytokine analysis
    • Lymphocyte proliferation
    • Cytotoxicity/ Cell viability
  • Molecular Biology
  • Hematology
    • Complete blood counts (CBC's)
    • Slide differentials
  • Serology
    • Serum neutralization