Biodistribution Assessment of Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated mRNA Delivery Using In Vivo Imaging

Cayman Chemical’s LNP development services in partnership with Labcorp utilizes in vivo imaging technology to create a comprehensive LNP screening platform. With this approach, three LNP formulations were assessed in vitro and in vivo for potency of reporter gene expression and differential organ delivery. This comprehensive LNP formulation, characterization, and analysis service can be used to identify candidate LNP formulations with tissue-tropic distribution.

Continuous infusion in minipigs via semi-permanent over-the-wire central venous catheters using OrchesTA infusion pumps

IAT Congress 2025 -- Our previous methods for intravenous dosing in minipigs were either placing short-term intravenous cannula into the peripheral (saphenous) vein, which is only suitable for bolus or short infusion, or a vascular access port (VAP), involving surgical cannulation of the femoral vein attached to a subcutaneous port on the trunk with a recovery period of 14 days before the port can be used. Following successful use of semi-permanent over-the-wire central venous catheters for repeat blood sampling in minipigs at Harrogate and Huntingdon, it was proposed to use the model for a 24-hour continuous infusion. This was a refinement from the VAP model, as the simpler procedure involved a much shorter anaesthesia and was possible to do within annex of the animal home area, removing the need for transport to the veterinary theatre. It also avoided the need for surgical placement of the catheter and subsequent recovery period with medication administration. The cannulas were well tolerated by the minipigs.

Improving health outcomes and lowering costs with colon cancer testing programs

Colon cancer is on the rise. Learn about Labcorp’s efforts to improve employee health and lower costs with its employer-sponsored colorectal cancer screening programs.

Test or enrichment?

IAT Congress 2025 -- Are behavioral tests just research tools, or could they be enriching for the rodents themselves? By observing their natural behaviors – like exploring, problem solving and social interactions – we not only model conditions such as anxiety, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and addiction, but also uncover how different drugs influence key neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine. So, are these tests just science, or are they a form of enrichment too? Let’s explore!

Positive reinforcement training: Old-World NHPs

IAT Congress 2025 -- Positive reinforcement training (PRT) is increasingly used to refine scientific and husbandry procedures involving Old-World nonhuman primates (NHPs) around the globe. PRT provides mental stimulation as well as reduces stress for NHPs, which leads to better overall wellbeing and more accurate science. The understanding of behaviour as an indicator of welfare has gained enormous support in the past 20 years and our awareness to this allows us to continue improving our standards and processes.

Rabbit exercising program in a laboratory environment

IAT Congress 2025 -- New Zealand White rabbits are descended from the European rabbit, a social species that typically lives in large warrens. Both rabbits exhibit many of the same behaviors such as chewing, rearing, hiding and playing. Group exercising allows rabbits to express a broader range of natural behaviors that are not always available to individually housed rabbits. 

The use of body condition scoring - Old-World nonhuman primates

IAT Congress 2025 -- Body condition scoring (BCS) is defined as a subjective semiquantitative method of assessing body fat and muscle. Used as a management tool designed to assess the physical state of an animal, its musculature, body reserves and fat accumulation, it is considered to be useful to assess overall health, production and dietary management and can be a predictive factor in disease risk and outcome. BCS and body weight are two common methods used to assess the health of Old-World nonhuman primates (NHPs). While both techniques provide valuable information, they differ in terms of their approach and the type of data they generate. Body condition takes into consideration the shape, size and body composition of an animal. This approach allows for a more holistic assessment of an animal’s overall health and well-being. In contrast, body weights are quantitative and objective measurements that do not account for variations in shape, size or body composition. While body weights provide a straightforward numerical value, they may not accurately reflect an animal’s true level of health. BCS provides an objective measure that assesses fat coverage and distribution on an animal’s body, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of health beyond mere weight metrics. In many cases, female bodies may exhibit lower muscle mass; however, with appropriate BCS evaluation, it can be determined that they maintain good health status. BCS involves a visual and hands-on assessment, with a numerical grading system using BCS charts based on Macaca mulatta as a model. It is reliant on visual observations and physical palpation to assess the overall body condition of the macaque. The hands-on approach allows for a more accurate evaluation compared to only relying on visual cues alone; additionally, the use of numerical grading system provides a standardized way to quantify to an animal’s body condition, allowing for easy comparison between individuals. 

Dog group feeding: A refinement rooted in the 3Rs

IAT Congress 2025 -- The 3Rs principles include reducing the number of animals used in research, replacing animals with valid scientific alternatives, and refining research and testing methods to improve animal welfare. Over recent years, food consumption patterns in laboratory beagle dogs have seen a transformation by which dogs have become food grazers, this being the consequence of ad-libitum provision of food at breeding establishments.​ Whilst ad-libitum feeding regimes suit breeding establishment routines, they are not always practical at research establishments, due to study requirements of feeding at specific time points in relation to dosing times​. Due to the above-mentioned feeding regime differences at breeding vs. research establishments, dogs may need long acclimatisation times to adjust to timed feeding when transferred from breeding to research premises. In this context, there seems to be a directly proportional relation between acclimatisation duration and dogs’ age at time of transferring.​ Longer acclimatisation times might lead to study start delays in cases of low food intake and subsequent loss of body weight and body condition. Group feeding has the potential to improve welfare, meet nutritional needs and address behavioural issues due to reduced separation times, when compared to single feeding regimes.

The progression on welfare for rat pain response

IAT Congress 2025 -- Pain response methods were introduced and methods were adapted for studies that were run at Labcorp in Eye, UK, to investigate the development for anti-neoplastic treatment for children suffering with neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is classified as an embryonal tumour, a type of cancer that develops from the cells left behind from a baby’s development in the womb. The cells from which it develops are specific cells in the nervous system called neuroblasts. Two different pain response methods were used across the project. In the first part of the project using the Hsd:RH-Foxn1rnu rats, pain response was assessed using an analgesiometer designed for the Randall-Selitto test. In the second part of the project using Sprague-Dawley rat, the Von Frey test was used. Traditionally, this method uses a Perspex arena with a wire-grid floor with graded-thickness filaments introduced on the plantar surface of the rat hind paws through the wire grid. However, as the study was performed with juvenile animals from post-natal day (PND) 10, the use of the wire-grid floored arena would not have been suitable due to the small size of the paws. We therefore adapted the technique to be performed in-hand.