Local contract research organization PPD Inc. has entered into a collaboration with Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI). The two organizations plan to refer potential business opportunities for laboratory, preclinical and clinical development services they do not offer to their respective clients to one another. In addition, the companies intend to work together to collaborate and jointly bid on select new research projects.

They also will focus on future service opportunities for biopharmaceutical and government clients across a range of therapeutic areas.

“As demand for preclinical services grows, our collaboration with LBERI builds on our strong capabilities and competitive position, particularly in the areas of respiratory, infectious diseases, health outcomes and epidemiology,” said David Grange, chief executive officer of PPD in a press release. “This collaboration also enables us to broaden our work with government organizations through LBERI’s existing government relationships.”Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute and its family of companies is a 65-year-old, not-for-profit biomedical research institute dedicated to improving the public health through research on the causes, new treatments and molecular mechanisms of disease. It specializes in drug development, environmental science, clinical and health outcomes investigations, defense studies and respiratory disease research. Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI) is a subsidiary of Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI). LRRI is based in Albuquerque, N.M. It employs 1,100 people and is a $125 million company.