What MRIGlobal does

MRIGlobal is a nonprofit independent contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with an additional 38,000-square-foot engineering and fabrication facility in North Kansas City. Founded in 1944, the organization delivers research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) services to U.S. federal agencies — including the CDC, DoD, HHS/ASPR, IARPA, and JPEO-CBRND — as well as commercial pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device clients. Its work spans six primary technical areas: Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Global Health Surveillance, Vaccine and Therapeutics Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Disease Diagnostics, and Medical Countermeasure Safety and Toxicology.

The company's core technology portfolio combines high-containment biological laboratory capabilities with engineered hardware systems. Proprietary mobile and transportable platforms include the Athena Mobile Laboratory (a ground-up redesign of containerized lab systems for global deployment), the Containerized Bio-Containment System (CBCS, a flyable unit compatible with C-17 and 747 aircraft for transporting highly infectious patients), and the Portable Biocontainment Unit (PBCU, unveiled in 2025 as the first U.S. domestic resource for ground and air transport of high-consequence infectious disease patients). In parallel, MRIGlobal has developed an integrated suite of AR/VR training systems — including the HoloTrainer CBRN detection simulator, Checkpoint AR mission planner, and UGV virtual simulator — built on Microsoft HoloLens 2 and Unity, alongside the Open Architecture Data Management System (OADMS) for remote control of test-grid assets at Dugway Proving Ground. Laboratory service capabilities span assay design and validation under GLP, CLIA, and ISO 17025 standards, bioinformatics-driven biomarker identification, biorepository operations, and FDA regulatory consulting for 510(k) and EUA submissions.

Commercially, MRIGlobal operates a project-based, cost-reimbursable professional services model with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is generated through multi-year federal contracts and commercial research agreements, accessed via direct federal procurement vehicles, an online project quote tool, and vendor bid opportunities. Its customer base is concentrated in the public sector, anchored by long-standing relationships with CDC, DoD, and HHS, and supplemented by commercial pharma and diagnostic device engagements. Marketing is primarily technical and reputation-driven — through white papers, scientific publications, two podcasts (Science Diction, Gray Matter), and conference participation — rather than performance or demand-gen channels. The organization is led by President & CEO Dr. Ian Colrain and reported 251–500 employees.

Name

MRIGlobal

Legal name

MRIGlobal

Website

https://mriglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MRIGlobal is a nonprofit independent contract research organization headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, providing research, development, test, and evaluation services to federal agencies (CDC, DoD, HHS/ASPR, IARPA) and commercial pharmaceutical clients. Core capabilities include mobile diagnostic laboratories, biocontainment transport systems, assay development, and AR/VR CBRN training platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research and Scientific Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical Laboratories (621511), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Quality Assurance (GCP QA, TMF/QMS oversight) (HLAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quality Engineering & Risk Management (ICH Q9/Q10, validation, change control) (HLAGAKAL), Mobile Imaging Services (HLAFAKAC), Healthcare Outcomes & Real-World Evidence (RWE) Analytics (BPAHALAN)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Mobile laboratory systems
• Biocontainment engineering
• Pharmaceutical sciences
• Defense research

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Contracts: MRIGlobal generates revenue primarily through federal government contracts. Recent CDC contract valued at $148 million for pandemic preparedness tools development. Other clients include DoD, HHS/ASPR, and IARPA. These are typically multi-year, fixed-price or cost-plus contracts for research, development, test, and evaluation services.
2. Commercial Contract Research: Provides assay development, pharmaceutical sciences, and diagnostic services to commercial clients including pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Services span from early research through FDA regulatory submission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MRIGlobal is an independent nonprofit contract research organization that delivers applied science, engineering, and field operations across defense, global health, infectious disease, pharmaceutical sciences, CBRNE response, and environmental health. It designs and manufactures mobile laboratory and biocontainment platforms (Athena Mobile Laboratory, CBCS, PBCU) and supports federal agencies and commercial clients with diagnostics, assay development, vaccine/therapeutic research, biorepository services, and CBRNE training systems.

Product overview

MRIGlobal is a nonprofit contract research organization offering a portfolio of specialized products and laboratory services. Its core products include mobile laboratory and biocontainment solutions (Athena Mobile Laboratory, Containerized Bio-Containment System, Portable Biocontainment Unit), simulation and training systems (OADMS, HoloTrainer/EWAT, UGV Simulator, Checkpoint AR Mission Planner), and assay development services. These are complemented by broad service offerings in vaccines and therapeutics development, pharmaceutical sciences, in vitro diagnostics, global health surveillance, disease response, biorepository services, warfighter protection, and agriculture research. The organization operates from Kansas City headquarters with facilities supporting defense, human health, pharmaceutical, and global health programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Athena Mobile Laboratory A deployable mobile diagnostic laboratory platform designed for field deployment during infectious disease outbreaks and CBRNE events. Used by federal agencies (HHS, CDC, DoD) and international partners for on-site sample analysis.
• Containerized Bio-Containment System (CBCS) A rapidly deployable, container-based biocontainment system for outbreak response and field isolation of infectious patients or samples. Built for federal health and defense customers.
• Portable Biocontainment Unit (PBCU) A portable biocontainment unit developed for HHS/ASPR for rapid isolation and clinical care capability during infectious disease outbreaks. Sold to federal health agencies.
• Open Architecture Data Management System (OADMS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced diagnostic turnaround time from 24 hours to under 4 hours during Ebola outbreak response
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HHI CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Primary subcontractor and partner for Portable Biocontainment Unit (PBCU) development. HHI Corporation collaborated with MRIGlobal as prime contractor for HHS/ASPR program.
• ForgeFX SimulationscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on augmented reality and virtual reality training simulators for US military. Developed Enhanced Warfighter Augmented Trainer (HoloTrainer) for CBRN detection device training using Microsoft HoloLens 2. Also developed Checkpoint AR mission planner for NBCRV vehicles and UGV virtual simulator with gamification elements.
• IARPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB24IC (Biointelligence and Biosecurity for the Intelligence Community) program partnership. MRIGlobal leads a consortium including nine academic institutions, non-profits, and businesses including Exodigm Biosciences, Quantitative BioSciences, Raytheon BBN, Georgia Tech Research Institute, MIT, Ginkgo Bioworks, and Battelle Memorial Institute.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Leidos: Large federal contractor with a substantial health and defense portfolio, including biodefense, CBRN, and infectious disease work for CDC, DoD, and HHS. Competes with MRIGlobal for prime contract opportunities at a much larger scale.
• SAIC: Large federal services integrator with overlapping health, defense, and CBRN portfolios, including work for DoD, HHS, and intelligence community. Competes for many of the same federal R&D and engineering contracts as MRIGlobal.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Major federal consulting firm with significant health and defense engagements, including biodefense, CBRN response, and public health programs. Operates at a substantially larger scale and competes on shaping federal health-security opportunities.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global commercial CRO providing preclinical, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic development services. Overlaps with MRIGlobal's pharmaceutical sciences and assay development offerings on the commercial side.

Direct peers

• SRI International: Nonprofit research institute with comparable federal/biodefense R&D portfolio and historical presence in intelligence, biomedical, and national security programs. Operates on a similar nonprofit contract-research model serving DoD and HHS.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Largest US nonprofit applied research organization, with similarly deep federal contracting in CBRN defense, biosurveillance, and biomedical research. Closest analog to MRIGlobal in nonprofit structure, mission mix, and federal customer base (CDC, DoD, HHS).
• RTI International: Nonprofit research institute delivering health, biodefense, and global health surveillance research for federal clients including CDC, NIH, and DoD. Comparable size, mission mix, and nonprofit contract-research model.
• MITRE Corporation: Federally funded R&D center operating on a nonprofit model with deep engagements across DoD, HHS, and intelligence community on CBRN, biodefense, and public health preparedness — overlapping with MRIGlobal's federal mission profile.
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): Nonprofit applied R&D organization with comparable engineering, defense, and life sciences contract research; provides similar contract-research services for DoD, NASA, and commercial clients.
• Noblis: Nonprofit scientific and engineering services firm serving federal civilian and defense clients, including HHS and DoD. Similar scale and contract-research posture, with overlapping work in CBRN, public health, and engineering services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MRIGlobal_News
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MRIExternalComm
• Facebookfacebook.com/MRIGlobalResearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mriglobal

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MRIGlobal