IITRI Completes Multimillion Dollar Expansion

IITRI completed a multimillion dollar expansion project in September 2005 that enhances research service capabilities in its Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Toxicology, and Inhalation Toxicology divisions.

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Enhancements

Improvements to Microbiology and Molecular Biology Division Facilities include:

• Five new BSL-3 labs, including one equipped for studies with respirable aerosols. These labs can be used for either in vivo or in vitro studies with pathogenic agents, and bring IITRI's total number of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories to 10.

• Five new cellular and molecular biology labs for use in studies of genomics, gene expression and molecular diagnostics.

• Expanded genetic toxicology labs to accommodate in vitro micronucleus assays and other emerging methodologies.

Toxicology Division Additions

	A surgery suite provides facilities to perform surgical procedures required in the conduct of toxicology studies, such as implanting radio telemetry devices to monitor cardiac function.

Expansions to the Toxicology Division include:

• Eight canine holding rooms that will house more than 150 dogs in floor-level runs. A procedure room is located adjacent to each canine holding room.

• Four primate holding rooms and adjacent treatment areas.

• A safety pharmacology laboratory designed primarily for studies of cardiac function using telemetry.

• A complete surgical suite and necropsy facilities.

• Five new rodent rooms, increasing our total number of standard rodent rooms to 38.

• A new centralized necropsy facility.

• A new cage wash area.

Inhalation Toxicology Division Improvements

Additions to the Inhalation Toxicology Division include:

• Two canine inhalation laboratories. Canine inhalation studies, a new capability for IITRI, will be performed primarily to determine the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceuticals developed to be administered via inhalation.

• Two additional rodent inhalation toxicology laboratories, increasing IITRI's total number of rodent inhalation laboratories to nine.

Other Facility Expansions

Other facility enhancements include:

• A four-room chromatography suite.

• A new archives facility equipped with a new HVAC system for temperature and humidity control, as well as a state of the art waterless fire suppression system. Records will be maintained using a database providing the ability to bar code and track archived materials.

• New offices, a new storage building and other support space.

This expansion substantially increases laboratory capacity and enables IITRI to provide a broader range and greater volume of research and testing services to its customers.