MPI Research Announces New Division

Released Thursday, May 16 from CED Member MPI Research

MPI Research, the largest single-site preclinical contract research organization (CRO) worldwide, has created a new division, Surgical Services and Medical Device Evaluation (SMD), which will be led by Senior Director Mark Johnson, MS. As a Senior Study Director with more than 15 years of GLP and non-GLP experience specifically in this field, Mr. Johnson leads a robust team of knowledgeable and highly skilled surgeons and Study Directors that have extensive experience in medical device evaluation and surgical model development.

Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, this collaborative team is proficient in conducting studies with a wide range of species and, using a variety of surgical models. Specific therapeutic areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, cardiology, orthopaedics, neurology and general surgery. This new division is divided into three core areas: targeted delivery of therapeutics, medical device evaluation, and surgically induced disease models. In addition, the division provides surgical support services to all of MPI Research. The SMD team is known for its innovation and high quality service. Given their collective knowledge in medical device evaluation, toxicology, pharmacology, and disease modeling, the scientific staff works collaboratively with Sponsors to design the best and most efficient development program.

The state-of-the-art surgical facilities at MPI Research consist of three large animal and one small animal suites. Using standard and customized protocols for surgical disease models and implanted delivery systems that meet or exceed regulatory standards, the SMD team typically performs more than 5,000 surgical procedures annually.

According to MPI Research Chairman, President, and CEO, William U. Parfet, MBA, “Our new division has been driven by Sponsor demand. Medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies know that by placing their studies with us, they will get the best possible surgery and medical device evaluation in the preclinical space. They appreciate that not only have we dedicated an entire division to meet their needs, but we can also address their other preclinical and early clinical research requirements all within the same facility. This brings continuity and cost-effectiveness to their drug and device programs, while minimizing the risk of inconsistency and error since they can get all their research needs met by a single CRO. I am incredibly proud of the equipment, technology, and, most importantly, the expertise represented by our SMD division.”

Mr. Johnson is an expert webinar panelist in the upcoming Fierce Markets event, “How to Raise Medical Device Startup Funding in a Harsh Investment Climate.” He will discuss funding alternatives relative to medical device and diagnostics startups during this educational worldwide webinar, on May 23, 2013. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to hear Mr. Johnson, as well as other medical device and diagnostics experts, speak on this timely and relevant topic.

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