Service Description

PPD was contracted to conduct a rodent study to monitor weight gain or loss for various mouse candidates. The mice were to be fed various ingredients used as insulating materials, and the objective was to determine was first, to see if the mice would eventually eat the material, and second, if they were to either gain or lose weight as a result.

What Went Well

The CRO designed the study in an acceptable and effective fashion. Results obtained were found to be acceptable. They did a very good job of designing the quarters where the mice would reside and strategically located the ingredients so that they would be easily accessible to the mice.

What Could Be Improved

The project was quite costly and took far too long to complete. Proposed project completion dates were missed. This was a good example whereby a lot of time was placed on experimental design with little attention being paid to project deadline requirements.

Lessons Learned from the Experience

The CRO missed the deadline date for this project, despite assurances that the project would be completed on time. The CRO's service delivery promises were not met. Though the final results were found to be acceptable, they were of little value since the deadline was not met and the sponsor had no choice but to abandon the project.