The hard work and success of RTI's staff in 1999 resulted in the strongest financial position ever reported by the Institute. Revenue from research contracts grew by 23 percent over the previous year to $206.6 million. RTI translated this revenue growth into even stronger growth in net income, all of which RTI reinvests in capabilities and facilities. In 1999, RTI's net income jumped by more than 50 percent to $8.4 million.

In 1999, RTI made plans to open a second call center for telephone surveys. The new call center in Greenville, North Carolina, will open in March 2000. It will increase RTI's telephone interviewing capacity at least 50 percent, from 94 to about 142 stations. The Greenville facility will include the latest in computer-assisted telephone survey hardware and software systems. Interviewers and survey specialists experienced in conducting large- and small-scale telephone surveys will staff the new center.

RTI's staff expanded in 1999 to 1,738, representing a net increase of over 150 people. This past year RTI moved its London research office to Manchester, England, to accommodate expansion of its pharmaceutical and device economics group.

RTI's physical assets also grew in 1999 with the completion of the Gertrude M. Cox Statistics Building. The 58,169-square-foot building provides office space for over 190 staff members in the statistics and health and social policy research programs. The new building includes a conference room with flexible meeting space for groups of up to 135 people. Also in 1999, extensive renovations were made to environmental facilities to develop a world-class aerosol generation and measurement laboratory.