Staff has grown to 273 and research 1977 1944 volume reaches $3,211,000. 1995 The organization begins Incorporated as management of the new New state-of-the-art laboratory for Midwest Research 1945 Solar Energy Research human subject studies is developed. Institute. Institute, later renamed 1999 Old Westport Fire National Renewable 1955 Through and Police Station Energy Laboratory, in acquisition, MRIGlobal was is converted to a New building at Golden, Colo. modern laboratory 425 Volker Blvd., Kansas a Florida founded as the for 33 employees. City, Mo., is occupied. Division in not-for-profit Midwest 1982 Palm Bay is Research Institute on 1957 added. It’s 1950; staff count is A venture group is created to commercialize June 17, 1944 by Kansas Deramus Field 1960 inventions. Expansion and growth continues. City-area business 128 and research volume Station is Two additional wings are added leaders to support donated by the is $638,000. to the Kansas City headquarters. industry, provide jobs Deramus family. and advance scientific knowledge. 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s This visionary and First major project: Bananas, coffee & candy : 1,000th client: Protecting the planet: Renewable energy: Human health: community-minded Find a way to keep ammonium nitrate Early in the decade, our scientists isolat- In 1963, Ideal Cement Co. of Colorado becomes the In 1972, the organization won its largest single contract to Following the energy crisis of the 1970s, renewable The 1990s’ focus was health. Disease prevention and cadre of leaders fertilizer from caking, for Spencer Chemi- ed a bacterium causing blight in Central organization’s 1,000th client. date: $2.8 million for the U.S. Environmental Protection energy, including wind, solar, hydrogen, and bio- treatment studies included analysis of cancer and AIDS determined that a cal Co. (Succeeded in 1946, allowing the American banana crops. This organism Agency. Service as the analytical laboratory for the U.S. En- mass, receive national attention. treatments, smoking cessation, and lead exposure in chil- Project leader is Dr. John Nebgen, who as a student research facility could conversion of the Jayhawk Ordnance Plant had never before been identified or clas- vironmental Toxicology Program also began in 1972. dren. Conducted research on new pharmaceuticals. was one of the first KC Science Fair winners. As a help the region find to peacetime use.) sified. ways to retain workers community service, the organization managed Science whose jobs were Pioneers, which sponsored the Science Fair. vanishing due to farm mechanization and the loss of the military manufacturing industry.

MRIGlobal’s story is one of humble origins, but marked by steady expansion as the Staffed solar desalination For NASA, invented a organization addressed pilot plant in Saudi Arabia. thermoelectric challenges of ever- cooling system to increasing scope and For J. A. Folger & Co., Conducted studies cool astronauts in the Synthesized and scale and complexity. developed soluble coffee for the National bulky suits they wear screened organic MRIGlobal’s reach and and equipment that could Established a Regional Cancer Institute upon departure and Conducted studies compounds for solutions now have automatically make and Economics Laboratory, which on the safety and re-entry. of the effect of use in the fight dispense hot coffee, a analyzed and projected toxicity of drugs electromagnetic global impact. against cancer. forerunner of today’s regional income, population, used to treat fields on humans. For the U.S. Army, helped with Perfected the auto drip coffeemakers. productivity, and trade. cancer and AIDS. destruction of chemical weapon coating process Developed a bactericide that could be stockpiles and remediation. for M&M® candies, sprayed safely into the air to help control Conducted developing a contagious disease. popular quality- machine that of-life studies Introduced the SpinCon® could coat Engineered lightweight air sampler for monitoring Soil stabi- Developed the total on various U.S. 3,300 pounds of thermoelectric cooling contaminants in the air. It was On June 17, lization for plan for construction cities. chocolate centers devices for U.S. Army used in late‘90s to monitor urban 1944, Midwest barnyard lots, of the Kansas City every hour. aircraft to cool flight air for rubber tire fragments as improving International airport. Research personnel while a possible cause for increased cleanliness operating in tropical prevalence of asthma in children. Institute was while avoiding Operated a special-purpose and desert climates. This technology earned an It was later added to a bio-agent incorporated. the need to analog computer to analyze data Studied drug addiction R&D 100 Award and was used in detection system placed in post pave them. for clients and designed and built a and marijuana detection. Operation Desert Storm. printer for digital computers. offices nationwide. 2002 2008 2009 2011 A laboratory in Rockville, Md., is added to The organization launches the Solar Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D., is The organization adopts a serve the round-the-clock bioanalysis Technology Acceleration Center promoted to President and Chief new identity – MRIGlobal needs of the federal government. (SolarTAC), one of the world’s Executive Officer. – which reflects the global largest solar test and evaluation impact of the solutions 2003 facilities. LEED Certification is awarded delivered in Research and for the renovation of the Kansas Additional expansion and growth occurs With approximately 3,000 staff, Development, Test and The Center for Integrated Algal City headquarters and laboratory History as the Frederick, Md., office is added to the annual research volume exceeds Evaluation, and Operations and Management. Research is created, focusing on facilities, demonstrating provide advanced consultation in biological half a billion dollars. algae as biofuel. energy and water savings, and threat prevention and procedures. With world-class expertise in science, engineering and commitment to a more suitable program management, MRIGlobal solves increasingly 2004 As one of two partners in the environment. complex challenges facing clients in government, Alliance for Sustainable Energy, academia and industry. Growth comes with a new field station in a new contract continues a 30+ Butler, Mo., and expansion of the Florida year relationship as management MRIGlobal delivers innovative technology-based facility. contractor for NREL. solutions with global impact. 2000s

National defense: Events of September 11, 2001, propelled national defense programs to the forefront. MRIGlobal delivers global technology-based solutions in national security and defense, energy and environment, life and Biological sensors and animal sciences, agriculture monitors are tested in our and food safety and bioaerosol chamber. transportation.

MRIGlobal’s research and engineering contributions Scientists focus on to vaccine development to advance knowledge and help the country respond to biowarfare threats. improve our world. Working with pharmaceutical clients, a new Automated Plate Replication System is deployed to dispense small quantities of samples for screening purposes. The organization develops the next generation of The organization begins management of bioanalysis labs chemical weapons in the Pentagon and at several military sites. This leads detection technology to the Guardian project to help protect 200 military to be used in the field, installments worldwide. such as a portable gas chromatograph. The ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle is modified Kansas City and Rockville facilities receive ISO 9001:2000 to look for biological warfare agents as part of a Headquarters certification. program funded by the Defense Threat Reduction

Agency of the Department of Defense. MRIGlobal 425 Volker Boulevard Engineers develop an Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2241 automotive fuel tank to store A humanoid robot is developed to test protective Phone: 816-753-7600 absorbed natural gas fuel in a gear against chemical exposure, ultimately to protect Fax: 816-753-8420 smaller, low-pressure tank that U.S. troops. can be mounted under the floor of a car. Visit us on the web: www.mriglobal.org PATH selects the organization to advance the development of influenza vaccines, supporting For more information: The U.S. Department of Defense awards a contract to worldwide pandemic influenza preparations. Lyla Perrodin provide support services for defense of chemical and Vice President and Chief Information Officer biological threats. 816-360-1933