{{Short description|Kansas City-based non-profit research institute since 1944}} {{Infobox company | name = MRIGlobal | logo = MRIGlobal Logo 2023-Color.png | type = Nonprofit scientific research institute | industry = {{unbulleted list|Research|Research and Development}} | founded = Kansas City, Missouri ({{Start date|1944|06|17}}) | founder = Kansas City-area business leaders | former_name = Midwest Research Institute | location = 425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard<br />Kansas City, Missouri, {{nowrap|United States}} | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = | products = | services = {{unbulleted list|Research|Research and development}} | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | num_employees = 550 (in FY13)<ref name="About Us">{{cite web|url=http://www.mriglobal.org/Documents/Annual%20Reports/MRIGlobal2013AnnualReport.pdf|title=MRIGlobal 2013 Annual Report |publisher=mriglobal.org |date= |accessdate=2014-07-21}}</ref> | divisions = | subsidiaries = | website = {{URL|www.mriglobal.org}} }}
'''MRIGlobal''' is an independent, nonprofit, applied research organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, with offices also in Virginia, Maryland, and North Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to its own research laboratories, MRIGlobal co-manages the National Renewable Energy Laboratory research facility for the Department of Energy as part of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy.
MRIGlobal produces solutions to biological, chemical, and engineering challenges by performing research and development services for health and defense-focused organizations. This includes expertise in pharmaceutical research and clinical trial support, infectious disease biosurveillance and diagnostics development, biological and chemical threat agent detection, and laboratory management and operations.
== Foundation == Midwest Research Institute was founded in December 1943 individuals who were determined to retain and attract scientific and engineering talent in the Midwest.
Since its founding, the institute has performed work in collaboration with NASA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army, the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the United States Department of State. On March 1, 2011, Midwest Research Institute was renamed MRIGlobal to reflect its expanded focus. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westporthistorical.org/tours.html |title=Index |publisher=Westporthistorical.org |accessdate=2011-03-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509100539/http://www.westporthistorical.org/tours.html |archivedate=2008-05-09 }}</ref>
== Rapid expansion == MRIGlobal obtained its first contract with NASA in 1961 and its first U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency contract in 1964. In the 1970s, the organization began working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developing tests to detect and measure pollutants.<ref>{{cite news|last=Everly|first=Steve|title=MRIGlobal: An institution on the edge|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article1251875.html|accessdate=August 19, 2014|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>
Expansion and growth continued in the 1980s. In 1982, a venture group was created to commercialize MRIGlobal’s inventions. Major projects included engineering lightweight thermoelectric cooling devices for U.S. Army aircraft. This technology earned an R&D 100 Award, and was used in Operation Desert Storm to keep flight personnel cool while operating in warm climates.<ref name = "Midwest Research Institute: Some Recollections of the First 30 Years, 1945-1975">{{cite book | last = Kimball | first = Charles N. | title = Midwest Research Institute: Some Recollections of the First 30 Years, 1945–1975 | publisher = Midwest Research Institute | location = Kansas City, MO | date = 1985}}</ref>
Throughout the next two decades, MRIGlobal expanded its operations, adding locations in Palm Bay, Florida, in 1999; Rockville, Maryland, in 2002; and Frederick, Maryland, in 2003.<ref name = "Midwest Research Institute: Some Recollections of the First 30 Years, 1945-1975" />
== Recent history == On March 1, 2011, the Midwest Research Institute was renamed MRIGlobal to reflect its expanded focus.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.mriglobal.org/news/Publications/Documents/History%20Brochure.pdf|title=History brochure|publisher=MRIGlobal|accessdate=1 November 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103131738/http://www.mriglobal.org/news/Publications/Documents/History%20Brochure.pdf|archivedate=3 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Twiddy|first=David|title=Midwest Research Institute changes name to MRIGlobal|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/03/01/midwest-research-institute-changes.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629015142/http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/03/01/midwest-research-institute-changes.html|archive-date= June 29, 2011|accessdate=March 1, 2011|newspaper=Kansas City Business Journal|date=March 1, 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
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Category:Contract research organizations Category:Independent research institutes Category:Multidisciplinary research institutes Category:Research institutes established in 1944 Category:Research institutes in Missouri