Harlan Laboratories, a contract research organization and research models and services company, plans an expansion of its specialty research production facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana and Livermore, California. The company said this expansion more than doubles the number of isolators at these sites allowing Harlan to meet growing customer demand for its immunocompromised models.

"Our investment in these facilities underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality research models and services to investigators across the globe," said Joe Meyer, Vice President Global Commercial Operations at Harlan Laboratories. "We will continue to expand and enhance our facilities worldwide to meet the needs of the research community in key therapeutic research areas like oncology, immunology and toxicology with consistently dependable research models, diets and supporting services."

These facilities incorporate the latest technology and design advances to ensure sustained high health status research models, company officials said. The environmentally controlled breeding isolators are supported by individual air supply and HEPA filtered air handling to ensure the integrity of the colony housed within each isolator. The facilities also feature the latest state-of-the-art equipment and biosecurity measures including a watering system with automatic flushing to help prevent the unwanted proliferation of organisms, as well as a whole building redundant backup power system.

The company said its “expansion extends beyond an increase in facility footprint. Harlan Laboratories incorporated several sustainable components to the newly renovated Indianapolis and Livermore facilities. We designed the facilities with a dual purpose ­­- animal care and sustainability. We have incorporated energy efficient lighting and water systems, as well as designed workflows to support our biosecurity practices," said Mike Lipke, Global Vice President of Operations at Harlan Laboratories. "We are very proud of these two additions to the Harlan network and look forward to our ability to meet increasing customer demand from these state-of-the-art facilities."