Translational Imaging Center Leadership Offers Educational Web Series

MATTAWAN, Mich., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MPI Research and Translational Imaging Center partners, inviCRO, and 3D Imaging, announce a complementary two-part webinar series that will examine the game-changing benefits of translational research approaches utilizing molecular imaging.

Part I of the series, Bridging the Gap with Translational Imaging: Drug Development from Mouse to Man, kicks off on Thursday, April 17 from 1-2 pm (EDT) and will focus on how translational molecular imaging is employed in drug development through the presentation of multiple relevant case studies.

"Over the past 10 years, improvements in molecular imaging and informatics resolution, computing power, and data analysis tools have created a best-case scenario in today's translational imaging applications," said Scott Haller, Director of the Translational Imaging Center at MPI Research. "In this webinar series, we will highlight how translational molecular imaging complements preclinical laboratory development efforts and clinical efforts to gain both time and cost efficiencies."

Time is of the essence to patients in need of new treatments. Today's translational imaging solutions provide robust data sets and reduced animal test subjects, which dramatically impacts decision-making at all stages of drug development.

"This webcast is especially geared toward anyone responsible for making critical preclinical decisions on drug development timelines," said Jack Hoppin, PhD, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of inviCRO. "We will walk through our strategies and explain the role and benefits of translational molecular imaging."

Webinar participants will view real-world examples of successful molecular imaging trials conducted by the three partnering organizations.

"We will be offering an inside look at the proven outcomes of trials performed with MPI Research, inviCRO, and 3D Imaging which resulted from our combined experience in molecular imaging, autoradiography, animal modeling, and advanced image analytics," added Marc Berridge, PhD, President and Founder of 3D Imaging. "There is a new tomorrow for solutions that once took 10 to 15 years to uncover."

As announced in summer 2013, MPI Research, inviCRO, and 3D Imaging are collaborating on the development and operation of the Translational Imaging Center to address increasing demand from pharmaceutical and other Iife science companies for comprehensive imaging services in a single location. The Center will provide drug developers with access to the first commercially available cyclotron facility immediately contiguous with vivarium facilities that house species ranging from mice to nonhuman primates. The cyclotron will open new opportunities for the partners of the Translational Imaging Center as well as for life science investigators and Sponsors to significantly impact the drug development process.

Register online for this educational webinar at http://www.mpiresearch.com/webinars/. The Translational Imaging Center opens on May 2, 2014. Part II of the series will be available later this year.

About the Translational Imaging Center
The 10,000-square-foot, two-story Translational Imaging Center, a partnership between MPI Research, inviCRO, and 3D Imaging, will be housed on the grounds of MPI Research in Mattawan, Mich. The project will leverage the distinct and complementary strengths of each partner, including inviCRO's molecular imaging informatics team, 3D Imaging's radiopharmaceutical group, and the comprehensive CRO-based services of MPI Research.

About MPI Research
MPI Research, with global headquarters in Mattawan, Mich., provides safety evaluation, discovery, bioanalytical and analytical services to the biopharmaceutical, medical device, animal health, and chemical industries. The company offers comprehensive imaging solutions including preclinical imaging, radiochemistry, and data analysis. Scientific knowledge and experience, responsiveness, integrity, trust, teamwork, and dedication to strong and enduring Sponsor relationships are the defining attributes that characterize MPI Research as a high-performance, high-quality organization that is committed to bringing safer and more effective products to the world. Learn more about how MPI Research can exceed your expectations at www.mpiresearch.com.

About inviCRO
inviCRO was founded with a mission of improving the value of imaging in drug discovery and development. The company provides a full range of imaging services and software solutions including contract research services, custom data analysis and software programs for image data management and high-throughput image processing. Its experienced team of more than 35 research scientists possesses unique capabilities in imaging physics, advanced biostatistics, multi-dimensional image processing and software development, and an intimate understanding of imaging systems, agents and animal models. Managing and/or processing more than 20 imaging studies per month across a broad range of applications, inviCRO has processed more than 100,000 scans over the past three years. inviCRO's analysis and management software is used in over 100 imaging facilities worldwide and its use is growing. Find out more at www.invicro.com.

About 3D Imaging
3D Imaging was established to bring innovative radiochemistry to drug development research. With an onsite cyclotron embedded in a major medical school research and teaching hospital, 3D Imaging produces any desired radiopharmaceutical. For the past seven years, 3D Imaging has offered preclinical, translational, and clinical PET imaging. Beginning with C-11 and F-18 labeled radiopharmaceuticals, including custom-labeled and custom-formulated drugs and drug candidates, 3D Imaging currently offers 45 different radiotracers. With the addition of novel, solid targetry for in-house production of I-124, Zr-89 and Cu-64, products labeled with these nuclides, and custom labeling with commercially available SPECT nuclides, there is no limit to the potential to produce the right tracer for any purpose. Find out more at www.3dimagingllc.com.  

SOURCE MPI Research