MPI Research and its CRO partners are a couple months away from cutting the ribbon on their imaging-focused collaboration, and now the three have installed the particle accelerator they say they'll need to stand out among other drug researchers.
Along with inviCRO and 3D Imaging, MPI is setting up a new cyclotron at the Translational Imaging Center adjacent to the CRO's headquarters in Mattawan, MI. The technology allows for the in vivo visualization and characterization of cellular and molecular processes, giving investigators the opportunity to track drugs and more easily deduce whether they're hitting their targets and producing their desired effects, the companies said.
"The placement of the cyclotron within the Translational Imaging Center will give researchers timely access to a wide range of isotopes for tracing true performance of promising drug candidates," MPI CEO William Parfet said in a statement. "This ability, along with our advanced data interpretation abilities, will help drug developers reach key go/no-go decisions faster and more efficiently."
The trio plans to open its center in May, and once the new device is up and running, the 10,000-square-foot operation will offer molecular imaging, radiochemistry and informatics in one location, plus an on-site vivarium for animal studies, the companies said.
Between the partners, MPI provides across-the-board CRO services, while 3D Imaging is on deck to operate the cyclotron and inviCRO to provide the informatics know-how to decipher and interpret resulting data. Combined, the three figure they can provide drug developers with an end-to-end imaging solution for early-stage development.
- read the announcement