Insect Research & Development Limited is a contract research company specialising in investigations of methods for controlling insects and other arthropods of public health significance. The activities of the company are mainly divided into two focuses. Firstly, we focus on insect research and laboratory testing to establish baseline activity of products at various stages of the product development process. Insect Research also conducts clinical trials and field work.

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Insect Research & Development has extensive experience of evaluating products since its foundation as Medical Entomology Centre in 1984. During that time, Insect Research & Development screened most of the leading products used as topically applied treatments for control of lice infestations. We have also screened mosquito repellents, and home flea sprays. We have developed a series of novel techniques for measuring the effectiveness of products and materials designed to manage house dust mites and their allergens, bed bugs and other household pests, and evaluation of insect repellents.

 

Through Medical Entomology Centre, the company has been at the forefront of protocol design and implementation of good clinical practices in the conduct of clinical investigations of head louse treatments.

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We engage in a range of activities including the identification of animal-derived foreign bodies (not just insects) found in consumer goods on behalf of leading retail companies.

 

We also offer specialist and bespoke training on public health pests, ectoparasites and forensic expert witness work involving interactions between humans and arthropods.