Your Research, Your Way
K2bio offers Houston's fully equipped, compliant contract vivarium designed to provide your team with speed, flexibility, and confidence in every study.
Houston combines the world’s largest medical center with a dense network of CROs, biotechs, and research labs, providing a partner ecosystem to efficiently move programs from preclinical to clinical. Located in the “Goldilocks Zone” near the Texas Medical Center, our compliant vivarium gives you the best of both worlds – self-directed and expert support. With transparent, all-inclusive pricing, you choose the level of service that fits your goals.
Houston Life Sciences by the Numbers
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$850M – $1.05B in NIH funding (FY2026)
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1,100+ life science companies
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3.0M sq ft of lab/R&D space
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28,000+ life science professionals
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2,000+ active clinical trials
Services/Techniques
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Breeding and colony management
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Discovery pharmacology
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Efficacy studies
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Long-term survival studies, PK/PD studies (including rapid PK)
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Surgical procedures
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Expertise with a range of injection types and administration techniques
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IVIS imaging system
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Necropsy
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Tissue collection for ex vivo analysis
Modalities
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Biologics
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ADCs
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CAR-Ts
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mRNAs
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Small molecules
Models
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Orthotopic cancer models
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Humanized immune models
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Murine cancer models
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Immuno-oncology models
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Transgenic models
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Tumor xenograft models
How We Work
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Choose Your Model: Self-directed use of the vivarium contracted technical services
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Select Housing & Support: Options for private or shared spaces, with expert husbandry built in
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Start Quickly: Compliance and equipment in place to accelerate timelines
How We Can Support You
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Fully Equipped Facilities: Individually ventilated cages (IVC), IVIS imaging system, private and shared procedure rooms, and core equipment to support your research
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Compliance You Can Trust: IACUC and OLAW standards, AAALAC-aligned practices, and strict environmental controls ensure animal welfare and regulatory confidence
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Expert Technical Services: On-demand support to train your team, assist with studies, or conduct procedures tailored to your project needs
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Flexible Housing Options: Customer-accessible housing with private and shared procedure space designed to align with your study requirements
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Streamlined Pricing: Transparent, all-inclusive packages with options that fit your project scale and budget
Frequently Asked Questions
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What accreditations does the vivarium hold?
Our vivarium is fully accredited by AAALAC International (the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) and is OLAW compliant (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare). We maintain an internal IACUC committee to expedite the review and approval of studies, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of animal welfare and ethical research practices.
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Is the vivarium GLP-compliant?
We support non-GLP studies, including early-stage GLP-like programs. Contact us to discuss specific regulatory requirements that align with your study goals. -
Can I bring my own research team?
We offer flexible partnership models that allow you to use your own team, collaborate with K2bio staff, or opt for a hybrid approach. We also offer training and support for seamless integration. -
Are short-term projects accepted?
We offer flexible access options, including short-term study support, long-term private suites, and transitional models for evolving research needs.
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What imaging and analytical services are available?
We provide the following advanced imaging and analysis services-
IVIS ™ bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging (in vivo and ex vivo)
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Leica fluorescence microscopy and Biotek Cytation 5
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Histopathology: IHC/IF staining, FFPE/fresh frozen tissue processing
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Flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, and spatial transcriptomics via Xenium
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