A brief summary of proprietary projects completed by Epi-Insight is shown below. Sponsors are not disclosed for these projects. Contact Epi-Insight for more information on any of this work.
Develop protocol, sources, logistics, and laboratory processing of porcine-origin tissue reagents for support of embryo transfer and cloning in pigs.
To simulate human laparoscopic surgery use-cases in a porcine model and describe the user experience associated with a novel medical device for improving visualization during human laparoscopic surgery. Particular interest in ability of device to improve laparoscopic visualization when purposefully challenged by smoke and high humidity/fogging. Laparoscopic surgery with mechanically assisted ventilation under gas anaesthesia in 10 conventional 25-50 kg pigs. Work involved recruitment and coordination of experienced human laparoscopic surgeons, board-certified veterinary anaesthesiologist, and development of an approved animal ethics application.
A controlled target animal safety study was conducted in 80 healthy piglets two to 12 days of age under Good Laboratory Practice guidelines. Project involved animal assessment, blood collection, oral gavage, euthanasia and necropsy, and collection of tissues at study termination. Study was conducted in support of product registration with a national animal drug regulatory agency.
A European manufacturer of animal remedies sponsored a study conducted under Good Laboratory Practices to investigate the safety of a injectable vitamin supplement in sheep. The study was conducted in New Zealand to support international market registration.
A quantitative risk assessment of exotic and high-consequence human and animal pathogens that may be disseminated through the manufacture and use of a by-product of dairy processing when used as a feed ingredient for livestock.
Developed and implemented a plan for investigating the potential association between exposure to porcine-origin feed ingredients and the occurrence of porcine epidemic diarrhea on client farms of a large commercial feed manufacturer. Work involved study design, database interrogation, site visits, analysis of data, and presentation of the results to internal customers and an international audience of veterinarians and government animal health policy staff.
The effects of PED on subsequent reproductive performance of sows have not been studied and therefore the true cost of the disease and the full potential of mitigation strategies are not completely understood. This project involved analysis of reproductive data from two farms affected by acute PED to quantify the effects of the disease on reproductive performance. Sows were classified as to their stage of production (day of gestation or day of lactation) at the time of the acute outbreak (and subsequent biofeedback) to determine the relationship between stage of production at time of the outbreak and their subsequent reproductive performance.
Consultant for international animal health company investigating adverse reactions to vaccines and pig diseases in Australasia. Additionally, involved in investigation of an emerging disease peri-weaning failure to thrive syndrome in young pigs.