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MATTAWAN, MI August 20, 2009: The MPI Research Discovery Center, operational since September 1, 2008, is moving forward with plans to transfer its services to new quarters. Located about 12 miles from corporate headquarters in Mattawan, the Discovery Center facilities will be located in downtown Kalamazoo, MI. The new accommodations will house customized state-of-the-art laboratories for all the discovery service offerings of the company, including Experimental Therapeutics (in vivo, molecular and cell-based assays), Experimental Surgery, Molecular Imaging, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, and Immunology. Migration of these services to the new facilities will be completed over the next six to twelve months.

Glenn J. Smits, PhD, who joined the MPI Research Discovery Center as a Senior Director of Surgery and Experimental Therapeutics and Principal Study Director in 2008, was recently promoted to Director of the Discovery Center. In addition to being the Founder of SCV Consultants, Dr. Smits has been Scientific Director at Charles River Laboratories, Associate Director at Genome Therapeutics, Senior Scientist at Biogen, Cardiology Senior Research Associate at Deborah Research Institute, Research Scientist at RPR (now Sanofi-Aventis), and Research Associate at Searle R&D . He received his PhD in pharmacology from St. Louis University School of Medicine and holds a MS in Physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Richard W. Slauter, PhD, DABT, recently joined the MPI Research Discovery Center as Senior Director of Drug Metabolism/ Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) and as Senior Principal Study Director. Dr. Slauter was most recently a Principal at Bay Therapeutic Development Solutions, where he designed and managed preclinical development programs for new drug candidates in oncology, metabolic, cardiovascular, anti-infective and autoimmune indications. Prior to that he was the Director of Nonclinical Development at Exelixis, Inc, where he was responsible for nonclinical development of lead compounds through Phase I. He has also served as the Vice President of Preclinical Development of Oncocidex, Inc., and held various scientific leadership positions at Battelle. With a PhD in pharmacology from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dr. Slauter completed post-doctoral work at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Drs. Slauter and Smits bring a wealth of scientific and leadership experience from within the Contract Research Organization (CRO), pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. According to company Director of Research, Tina Rogers, PhD, MBA, DABT, whom Dr. Smits replaced, "MPI Research holds a unique position within our industry in terms of our Discovery Center. Not only do we have excellent scientific talent, we will also have separate facilities dedicated to discovery that allow creativity and applied innovation to flourish. Our unique combination of scientific credentials and service offerings enable MPI Research to set a very high bar."

In October 2009, the MPI Research Discovery Center will sponsor a summit entitled "Advances in Therapeutic Discovery and Drug Development: Novel Therapeutic Biologics - Innovative Molecules and Mechanisms". At this event thought leaders from industry, regulatory, and academia will convene to present the latest research on this exciting topic. Visit www.mpiresearch.com/summit_home09.asp to learn more about this conference and to register online.

MPI Research, with global headquarters in Mattawan, Michigan, is one of the world's leading providers of comprehensive preclinical and early clinical research and development services. Learn more about the company's commitment to be the best at www.mpiresearch.com.

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