Alliances and Strategic Partnerships

Government agencies and corporate clients partner with MRI to serve as their research
and development laboratory, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world advances. We develop strong alliances with our partners, helping them to reach their strategic objectives.

An excellent example of this is MRI’s integral role in Kansas City’s effort through the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute to transform our city into one of the nation’s top 10 areas for biomedical research and development. By teaming with area universities, hospitals, and corporations, MRI is helping to make this community-wide vision a reality. Other key alliances include:

• MRI/MAHI-SLH Alliance
• REACH (Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri)
• MRI-Kansas State University
• Seed Product Alliance

Contact:

John S. Stanley,
Ph.D.
Group Vice President,
Business Development
(816) 753-7600,
ext. 1160

Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute

MRI—along with the University of Kansas, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Children’s Mercy Hospital, and many other leading regional research and civic agencies—is integrally involved in an effort to make Kansas City a leading center for the life sciences. This effort has resulted in the formation of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute. The initiative builds on four main areas:

Research and development. Greater Kansas City is a leader in the
field of life sciences research and is growing stronger in the development
segment of the industry. Our strengths include basic and translational
research and health care delivery.

Education. The Life Sciences Institute initiative supports outstanding
regional educational institutions and develops programs that result in
the preparation of more technologically advanced students. This results
in a significant and sustainable intellectual pool.

Commercialization. The Institute is working to implement an
aggressive and comprehensive commercialization system. For example,
The Metropolitan Entrepreneurial Commercialization Alliance (MECA)
creates an environment that encourages and facilitates collaboration
among network members.

Economic Development. The Institute is developing a business plan to
ensure that adequate resources are available for providing oversight and
coordination of fundraising, lobbying, and marketing activities and for
supporting research efforts through proposal review facilitation, resource
allocation, and accountability. Through the Institute, Kansas City has the
rare opportunity to develop a new economic sector—life sciences. New
life sciences businesses will be developed around technologies and
intellectual properties created or brought into Kansas City.

More...

Contact:
John S. Stanley, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development
jstanley@mriresearch.org
(816) 753-7600, ext. 1160

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MRI/MAHI-SLH Alliance

MRI and the Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital formed an alliance to study the causes, treatment, and cures of diseases. Although initial efforts will focus on heart disease, the alliance is expected to foster collaboration on a wide range of diseases in the future. Experts from both organizations will work together by sharing information on research capabilities and expertise, sharing equipment and services, supporting symposia and professional meetings, and conducting joint marketing and proposal activities. The Alliance has the following mission:

To contribute to the success of life sciences research in the Kansas City area by promoting collaboration and expanding capabilities of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City/Mid America Heart Institute and Midwest Research Institute and to align the strengths of both organizations to augment our collective ability to compete for research funding in order to improve and enhance performance in health research.

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REACH (Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO)

REACH (Research Alliance for Children’s Health)—a new collaboration between Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics and MRI—enhances area research capabilities on behalf of children. This alliance enables MRI and Children's Mercy to combine research capabilities and ensure that children are key beneficiaries of the research that is being done in life sciences in the Kansas City area.

Key goals of the alliance include:

• Realization of average annual research awards from grants
  and contracts of $8 million directly attributable to collaboration
  by the year 2005
• Joint pursuit of business development and marketing in specific areas of common interest. Areas initially identified include pharmaceutical product development, health assessment and bioanalytical support, and basic and translational research
• Pursuit and encouragement of joint technology development
  and commercialization

Visit the REACH website at www.reachforchildrenshealth.net.

Contact:
Thomas Grant, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development
tgrant@mriresearch.org
(816) 753-7600, ext.1555

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MRI—Kansas State University

An alliance between MRI and Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation's fifth oldest veterinary college, promotes collaboration on important research.

John S. Stanley, Ph.D.
Director, Business Development
jstanley@mriresearch.org
(816) 753-7600, ext. 1160

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Seed Product Alliance

MRI's strategic alliance with three other agricultural research and development companies provides enhanced seed product development services and helps companies to respond to rapid changes and opportunities in the area of agricultural biotechnology. Besides MRI, alliance members include Kamterter II, L.L.C. of Lincoln, Nebraska; Mid-West Seed Services, Inc, of Brookings, South Dakota; and Zehr Enterprises, Inc. of Stockton, California. The objective of the alliance is to expand product services in seed agricultural biotechnology, including process and product research and development, treatment,
coating, priming, production, and testing.

Contact:
Roger Harris, Ph.D.
Director, Product Sciences
rharris@mriresearch.org
(816) 753-7600, ext. 1548

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