Food and Drug Research Laboratories

Food and Drug Research Laboratories (FDRL) was a pioneering contract research organization (CRO) that provided toxicological, nutritional, and pharmacological testing services to the life sciences industry. Established in 1922, the firm became a leading authority in food safety and drug evaluation under the long-term leadership of Dr. Bernard L. Oser. FDRL operated specialized laboratories that conducted animal studies, clinical trials, and chemical analyses to support regulatory compliance for food additives, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The company was instrumental in the early development of safety standards and the evaluation of substances for the FDA's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list. Headquartered in New York, the laboratory served a global clientele of food and drug manufacturers for over six decades before being acquired by Waverly Pharmaceutical in 1983.