BSL-2 / BSL-3 animal studies

BSL-2 and BSL-3 animal facilities

IITRI has over 10,000 square feet of CDC-approved, Biosafety Level 2 and Biosafety Level 3+ laboratory space (BSL-2 and BSL-3+), including BSL-3 enhanced animal biosafety labs (ABSL-3+). These labs are fully equipped for in vitro viral culture and assays. We also provide GLP-compliant, BSL-2 high-containment toxicology services for evaluations of new therapeutics in the rapidly evolving fields of gene therapy, cell therapy, antibiotic resistant bacteria or fungi, and cancer immunotherapy.

Our BSL-3 / ABSL-3+ facilities include bioaerosol generation (aerobiology) and exposure systems for in vivo viral and bacterial inhalation challenge studies, or antiviral and antibiotic efficacy studies using aerosol delivery of pathogens such as F. tularensis and Y. pestis.

All Species Including NHPs

We offer an extensive collection of infectious disease animal models for efficacy studies including for COVID-19, influenza, Zika, fungal, and bacterial studies. When you are ready to open an IND with the FDA, IITRI has a comprehensive offering of toxicology studies in all the typical research species including NHPs (marmoset, cynomolgus monkeys, rhesus macaques, african green monkeys).

Accreditations for Select Agent Studies

We are fully registered with the CDC and USDA for possession and use of select agents and toxins for development of medical countermeasures (MCM) against bioterrorism such as Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis, requiring Biosafety Level 2 or 3 (BSL-2 or BSL-3) containment laboratories.

Since 1975, IITRI animal facilities have been fully and continuously accredited by the Association for the AAALAC. Our animal care program is supervised by a full-time board certified, state licensed, and USDA accredited veterinarian. Institutional oversight, policy, training, and programmatic review are performed by our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Highly Experienced Personnel

In vitro and in vivo studies conducted in our BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities are directed by PhD virologists and bacteriologists, with extensive experience in high-containment laboratories for research and select agent studies. Our PhD, DABT study directors are experienced in GLP toxicology studies for most drug types which includes: small molecules, large molecules, gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer therapeutics. IITRI facilities support both infectious disease and toxicology studies that require BSL-2 containment. Our technical staff is trained and highly experienced in conducting biosafety level 2 or 3 studies for infectious disease or GLP-compliant toxicology.

Full Suite of Supporting In Vitro Assays

Our in vitro assay support services are available to fully characterize animal challenge studies or human clinical trial samples for either BSL-2 or BSL-3 study rooms. We offer assay development, validation and performance verification for both non-GLP and GLP-compliant assays.

Learn more about our BSL-2 and BSL-3 in vitro assays and immunology services