RTI International, one of the world's
leading research institutes, is dedicated to improving the human condition by turning
knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 2,800 provides research and technical
expertise to governments and businesses in more than 40 countries. A major focus
of our international work is in health research; health technology development;
health systems and policy; and monitoring and evaluation.
RTI is uniquely positioned to bring added value to this effort precisely because
of the breadth of expertise among the staff. Our team understands the technical,
social, institutional and business aspects associated with developing and commercializing
new technologies. For 50 years, RTI has provided technology assessment and market
assessments for government and industry; engaged in research and development and
clinical trials in maternal and neonatal care; and contracted with USAID, NIH, CDC,
the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund, UNICEF, and other organizations to provide
research and technical assistance in global health.
Since 2001, RTI has served as the data coordinating center (DCC) for the Gates Foundation-NIH
Global Network, a partnership of investigators from the United States and LMIC,
with the goal to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in these settings. Sites
in the consortium coordinated by RTI are located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Examples of studies conducted by the Global Network include FIRST BREATH: Neonatal
Resuscitation in Developing Countries, Randomized Clinical Trial of Chlorhexidine
Wipes to Reduce Perinatal Mortality, Misoprostol Use for the Prevention of Postpartum
Hemorrhage, the GUIDELINES trial to increase active management of the third stage
of labor in Latin America, and the BRAIN trial to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes
of asphyxiated babies. The current studies are described in the Global Network Web site.
Since 1998, RTI has served as DCC for the
Neonatal Research Network (NRN), a multicenter network conducting clinical
trials and observational studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment
and management strategies for newborns. RTI has provided data leadership and coordination
for 22 primary studies and more than 50 secondary studies and analyses. RTI project
team members have coauthored 123 peer-reviewed publications and 168 presentations
on the NRN studies.
RTI also serves as the DCC for the Stillbirth
Collaborative Research Network (SCRN), which is conducting a multisite study
of stillbirth to establish the etiology of stillbirth.
In addition, RTI has extensive experience in research and modeling related to resource
mobilization and utilization, socioeconomic determinants of fertility and mortality,
dynamics of intenders and users of contraception, cost-benefit of family planning
programs, cost-effectiveness of reproductive health interventions, willingness-to-pay
for health services, and rational pricing and cost recovery.