RTI Annual Report 2017: Shaping the Future

At RTI International, we look continually toward the future, exploring how research, knowledge, and scientific discovery can make the world a place where people thrive. In 2017, we remained steadfast in our mission to do work that improves lives—work with impact that radiates outward, from individuals and families to communities, cities, and even nations. We strive to shift the boundaries between what is and what could be, knowing that our persistence of vision can shape a brighter future for all.

Understanding Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Treatment

Man tipping pills from a prescription bottle out onto his palm.
Group of people seated in a circle having a conversation in a room with large windows.
Researcher in safety goggles peers across rows of color-coded test tubes.
Red syringe disposal container, marked with a biohazard symbol.

Each year, more than 28,000 Americans die of opioid overdoses, and addiction to other drugs is a persistent problem. Our experts are looking at all facets of this immense public health crisis. We’re studying and defining causes and contributors, developing new nonaddictive drugs to treat pain, and identifying successful treatment interventions.

Helping People of All Ages Live Healthier Lives

Older couple smiling as they run hand-in-hand down a boardwalk at the beach.
Young father cradles his newborn child to his chest.
Girl in a colorful knitted winter hat uses an inhaler.
Woman smiling as she breaks a cigarette in half.

Healthy people lead happier lives. Through informed, evidence-based actions, we help empower health care providers to treat diseases affecting the youngest children, protect vulnerable seniors, and improve the well-being of individuals and society at large.

Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable People

Woman in a colorful headscarf with her two laughing children.
Woman and man seated beside each other on a couch, speaking to a counsellor.
Police officer directing a man to face and place his hands on a wall.
Shadow of a person seen through a rainbow flag.

Our work gives voice and vision to those who often go unheard and unseen—people who suffer from mental health issues, discrimination, or lack of access to basic public resources. In 2017, our research addressed the needs of individuals who require essential services, such as sanitation or psychological care, and those whose lives are entwined with the criminal justice system.

Advancing Global Health Security

Three young girls smiling.
Four African women wearing scrubs, surgical caps, and surgical masks.
Stacks of petri dishes in a laboratory filled with a red substance.
Mother holding her child in Africa.

Responding to health threats around the world requires well-informed decision making, broad technical expertise, and comprehensive strategies. As a member of the Global Health Security Agenda Consortium, we have our sights set on protecting people from the threats posed by infectious disease.

Transforming Health Care

Group of seniors smiling into the camera.
Doctor reviewing a medical chart with her elderly patient.
Family at the pharmacy paying for medication.
Doctor examines the cast on the arm of her young patient.

The American health care system will not be transformed with broad strokes, but rather through a series of incremental decisions by individuals and institutions. We help inform and focus the decisions that increase access to health care, improve treatments, and keep costs under control.

Teaching and Training the Workforce of the Future

Two employees receiving instruction from an older employeee.
Smiling children seated in a classroom writing in notebooks.
Two young men wiring a battery to other components in a classroom
A student on her laptop, sitting crosslegged in front of some brick stairs with her backpack

Education has a monumental and compounding impact throughout a person’s life—opening doors and broadening opportunities. At the societal level, it affects the economic vitality of communities, states, and nations. We help leaders in education perceive, understand, and act on the trends and practices that create possibilities for learners at all levels.

Driving Economic Growth in Developing Countries

Smiling park ranger surveys rhinos with binoculars.
Young man in a suit using a laptop at a table.
Woman in a headscarf sifting rice in a metal pan.
Worker wearing a yellow hardhat and gloves on a roof with solar panels.

A stable economy is a fundamental component of a thriving nation. Through projects in innovation and technology, conservation, agriculture, and environmental management, we help developing countries strengthen their economies for a better future.