Source: Mike Apley, 785-532-4167, mapley@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
NEW K-STATE LAB PROVIDES QUICK, RELIABLE PHARMACOLOGICAL SERVICES TO RESEARCHERS ALONG THE KANSAS CITY ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR
MANHATTAN -- Quick and accurate test results shorten the time it takes to develop new animal drugs and evaluate new applications for existing drugs.
That's why Kansas State University has brought together nearly 10 percent of the nation's veterinary board-certified clinical pharmacologists and created an advanced laboratory where researchers can get quick results.
PharmCATS, the latest addition to K-State's laboratory capabilities, serves both university and industry clients in need of bioanalytical services. PharmCATS is a nonprofit support organization for K-State and is in the university's research park.
"There was a need for a quality, responsive lab that understands the needs of both academia and industry," said Mike Apley, PharmCATS director and an associate professor of clinical sciences at K-State. "It is too easy in an academic lab setting to have time slip away. Pretty soon, a lot of time has passed with the samples in the freezer. We realize our clients can't stand those delays."
PharmCATS' mission is to provide rapid, accurate analytical services to support toxicological and pharmaceutical research conducted in both academic and private industry settings.
"Over the last six months, K-State has brought together an impressive team," Apley said. "It's practically unheard of to have four veterinary clinical pharmacologists all on one staff, in addition to two analytical chemists and a quality assurance person. We're able to go beyond just sample analysis and can help researchers design the study, analyze the resulting data and prepare the final report, if needed."
Apley said they've begun working with clients in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which stretches from Manhattan to Columbia, Mo. The corridor is significant because it is home to 120 animal health organizations and 13,000 specialists.
PharmCATS has already developed assays for multiple chemicals common to academic and pharmaceutical industry research. An assay is a procedure used to measure how much of a particular chemical is present in a sample. Moreover, Apley said they have the capability to develop or modify assays to accommodate a wide array of research projects. Additionally, the laboratory provides veterinary medicine students with hands-on learning opportunities.
While there are many contract analytical laboratories in the United States, PharmCATS can provide a complete solution from study design to data analysis.
"PharmCATS is structured to put your research needs on the front burner," Apley said.