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Midwest Research Institute Selected to Help Companies Advance the Development of Influenza Vaccines

Posted on: Monday, 4 May 2009, 11:30 CDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognized internationally for its expertise in virology and toxicology, Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has been selected by PATH to support its vaccine partner companies in advancing the development of new, safe, and effective influenza vaccines. The goal of the PATH effort is to produce vaccines more quickly, economically, and in large quantities to counter a global influenza pandemic.

MRI, headquartered in Kansas City, is one of the nation's leading independent scientific organizations conducting contract research for government, industry and academia since 1944.

PATH, an international, nonprofit organization, creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions that enable communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. In 2008, PATH launched a vaccine research program to accelerate influenza vaccine development through partnerships with public- and private-sector organizations.

Through the agreement, PATH partner companies will contract with MRI to perform assays and preclinical studies using influenza vaccine candidates. These studies will include in-vivo and in-vitro experiments, animal safety studies, and chemistry support activities. PATH strives to consolidate and standardize the preclinical animal testing at a single source, MRI, to improve consistency of study performance and reliability and reproducibility of associated data for their partnering companies.

"The opportunity to support PATH in their mission to improve world health is an exceptional achievement for MRI," said Thomas Sack, Ph.D., MRI Regional Vice President of Midwest Operations. "Our selection by PATH is recognition of MRI's excellence in biological and health sciences and our outstanding vaccine development and influenza virus testing programs."

About Midwest Research Institute

MRI, a not-for-profit scientific research organization with 1,800 employees nationwide, performs contract research and laboratory consulting services for clients in government, industry, and academia. Established in 1944, MRI is one of the nation's leading independent research institutes conducting research in the areas of national security and defense, energy and environment, life sciences, food and agriculture, and transportation safety. With headquarters in Kansas City, MRI also has facilities in Palm Bay, Fla., Frederick, Md., and Rockville, Md. MRI is one of the two entities in the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, that manages and operates the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy. For more information, visit www.mriresearch.org

SOURCE Midwest Research Institute

Source: PR Newswire

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