WILMINGTON, Mass. — Charles River Laboratories has launched an enhanced in vitro fertility service bundle for rat models, expanding its embryology capabilities and offering researchers a new way to accelerate preclinical research programs.
The company said it is the first commercial provider to offer in vitro fertility services for rat models. The service is designed to support research across therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology, cardiology and metabolic disease.
The offering combines embryo transfer, cryopreservation and colony rederivation to help research teams recover lines, expand cohorts and protect critical genotypes while reducing delays caused by breeding bottlenecks. Charles River said the service also includes dedicated project management, with optional health monitoring and genetic validation to support continuity across discovery, pharmacology and translational studies.
“The introduction of rat IVF is an exciting step forward for Charles River, helping shorten breeding timelines and deliver more consistent, predictable outcomes while making it easier to build healthy animal colonies and keep research moving forward,” said Colin Dunn, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Research Models & Services, Charles River. “Introducing this service provides researchers with a new avenue to advance drug development research and help bring treatment to patients faster, while maintaining industry-leading standards.”
In vitro fertility is an assisted reproduction technique that can be used with small animal groups, accelerate project timelines and accommodate animals of any health status. By replacing natural mating, the approach can save time and reduce the number of animals required for research.
The process involves fertilizing eggs outside the body in a laboratory setting to create embryos for implantation, genetic modification and preservation. Charles River said IVF can support the rescue of valuable lines, colony expansion, embryo production, recovery of cryopreserved models and maintenance of high health standards through rederivation.
“For decades, IVF has been leveraged in mouse models to accelerate research timelines,” said Matt Bouchard, Executive Director, NA Genetically Engineered Model Services, Charles River. “We are excited to now offer the same benefits in rat models due to our IVF protocol modifications, expanding options for investigators and ensuring the ideal model enters research.”
Charles River said its Genetically Engineered Model Services provide strategic support for researchers, including colony management, customized breeding plans, program logistics and delivery of study-ready model cohorts that meet VAF/Elite SOPF health standards.
