How We Work With Clients

Our objective is to add value to your activities such as your product development programme and product development investment decisions. We aim to work interactively with you. If Trinity or our partners cannot assist you in a task we will find someone who can.

Following initial contact our processes are:

1) We work with you to properly understand your requirements and how we may assist you.

2) If you are a new client we exchange confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with you. The IP arising from work on your product contracted by you remains yours. We retain IP only with respect to our models and assays.

3) Once we understand your objectives we develop a study design and discuss this with you, amending it as appropriate. Frequently this is an interactive exercise as you better understand your options and we learn more about your requirements.

4) We prepare a formal proposal to you and appoint a project manager.

5) Once you agree and sign off on the proposal and research plan we schedule the research, order any materials needed (some special requirements may have several weeks lead time) and secure any required approvals (eg, ethical, biosecurity).

6) We conduct the research programme. The research project manager keeps you informed of progress regularly. In the event of any unexpected outcomes or issues we contact you immediately and discuss the implications of these outcomes.

7) On completion of the research the project manager prepares a draft report. This is reviewed by a separate person in our team before forwarding to you.

8) We discuss the outcomes of the research with you.

9) After you have received the report we contact you to discuss any matters arising from the report.

The following paragraphs summarize some of the things you could consider and be aware of when planning your research with us.

In Vitro

The cost of assaying several samples may be very similar to investigating one sample. The maximum number of samples depends on the assay. For example a routine angiogenesis (aortic ring) study can evaluate up to 6 samples. A T-cell proliferation study can assess 15 samples.
Each sample is assayed at least in triplicate. This is to ensure the reliability of results.
It is usual practice to include both a negative and a positive control sample in each assay. The former provides a base line or reference to use for comparing effectiveness of the test samples. The latter provides confirmation that the experimental model has performed satisfactorily
Where living tissues or cells are used as the basic substrate, it may take variable lengths of time to grow the cells or tissues before the study can commence - nature has a way of being difficult whenever one wants to rush things.
Samples for testing need to be soluble. There are several solvent systems that are compatible with the cells and tissues used in these experiments.

In Vivo

Cost is not proportional to the number of samples to be assessed. The marginal cost for assessing multiple samples is often modest.
Each sample is assessed in a multiple number of animals. The number of replicates required is a function of the number of study factors, the predictive requirements, model risks and so on. Frequently a minimum of 6 to 8 animals per group is needed.
As these experiments use live animals there are usually defined parameters around the nature of animal required. There may be age or weight constraints, gender specifications, strain requirements. It may take several weeks to secure sufficient animals of a given type for a study.
All in vivo studies must be approved by an animal ethics committee that is completely independent of Trinity Bioactives. This is a legal requirement which ensures that all studies are conducted to the highest standard. All research must have a genuine potential benefit supported by prior information from the literature or in vitro studies.
Test samples can be administered by a variety of means- dietary, gavage, injection, or drink. The method employed will relate to the expected mode of action and the possible means of application of the planned product.