April 4, 2008

NTM Info & Research (NTMir), a Miami, Florida based not-for-profit organization, announced today that its first international research grant has been awarded to the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center to provide funding for “The Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare.”

The McGill grant is the third study funded by NTMir in its innovative research initiative, Rapid Information Pilot Studies (RIPS)™.  The RIPS™ program provides guidance about pressing issues regarding pulmonary NTM host vulnerability, sources of infection, and clinical treatment issues.

“The McGill project fits very nicely within the objectives of our RIPS™ program,” stated Philip Leitman, Montreal native and President of NTMir.

“The outstanding reputation of both McGill University and their principal investigator, Dr. Marcel Behr, was a key consideration in awarding this research grant,” Mr. Leitman added, “as well as the urgent need for better understanding of the M. avium intracellulare strain of NTM.”

For further information please contact Samantha Castronovo at ntmmail@ntminfo.org or (305) 667-6461 x32.

NTM Info & Research is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2003 by patients and physicians to support education and research for pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease.