New Name Reflects Institute's Development of Solutions with Worldwide Impact

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of its growth from a regional institute founded 67 years ago to an internationally recognized research and development organization with offices and projects throughout the U.S. and overseas, Kansas City-based Midwest Research Institute has changed its name to MRIGlobal.

"Our core areas of research—national security and defense, energy and environment, life and animal sciences, agriculture and food safety, and transportation—know no boundaries," said MRIGlobal president and CEO Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D.  "These are global issues that require global solutions. Our new name, MRIGlobal, recognizes our growth and acknowledged reputation as a prime contractor of choice on projects of increasing complexity and world-wide impact."

For more than six decades, the organization has sought solutions to problems as complex as fighting cancer and bioterrorism, as practical as improving highway safety and reducing lead paint exposure, and as everyday as how to make freeze-dried coffee or the hard-shell candy coatings for M&Ms® candies.

Today, MRIGlobal's acclaimed scientists and engineers are at the epicenter of critical national and international issues.

• In the area of national security and defense, MRIGlobal provides a 24/7 surveillance monitoring system to protect our nation's capital from the threat of a bioterrorism attack.  For the military, MRIGlobal is developing solutions to pressing issues including broad-based surveillance and monitoring systems to protect our soldiers.
• On another front, MRIGlobal is developing a robotic mannequin to test the effectiveness of protective gear against the threat of chemical weapons.  Half a world away, MRIGlobal has teams working in the former Soviet Union to consolidate dangerous biological agents, increase safety and security and improve public health systems.
• In our nation's quest for energy independence, MRIGlobal co-manages the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., and is a key contractor at the National Energy Technology Laboratory – both Department of Energy Laboratories where groundbreaking solutions to our nations' energy problems are being developed, tested and deployed.  In addition, MRIGlobal's researchers in Florida, Maryland and Missouri are at the forefront of developing sustainable transportation biofuels.
• Scientists at MRIGlobal are working with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and others to project world health through research in detecting and treating infectious disease, understanding drug toxicology, and developing innovative cancer therapeutics.

"These and many other areas of research have catapulted MRIGlobal well beyond its regional roots," Helmstetter said.  "Thanks to the incredible talents of our scientists, engineers, program managers and staff, MRIGlobal is seen as a leader at innovatively finding solutions to some of the world's most significant challenges."

"Our name and logo are changing to reflect our broader mission and impact," Helmstetter said.  "One thing that will not change is our client-focused approach to providing science and technology-based solutions with best-in-class program management."

About MRIGlobal

MRIGlobal, a not-for-profit research and development organization, delivers global solutions in national security and defense, energy and environment, life and animal sciences, agriculture and food safety, and transportation.  The organization performs scientific research, advanced engineering and program integration & management for clients in government, industry and academia.  Established in 1944 as Midwest Research Institute, MRIGlobal is based in Kansas City, Mo., operates in nine states and Washington, D.C., and manages more than 3,000 employees.

MRIGlobal is one of two partners in the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, which manages and operates the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information, visit www.mriglobal.org.  

SOURCE Midwest Research Institute