History

Launch of Global Laboratory Network for Clinical Trials Support...

MPLN Supports Large, Global CLL Clinical Trial

Key Opinion Leader (KOL) pathology network launched

MPLN-Biopharma Services forms partnerships with leading US Expert Pathology groups to provide extended therapeutic expertise for its clients. Specialties include Gastrointestinal, Cytology, NASH, Liver, Solid Tumor (Head and Neck, Breast, NSCLC), and dermatopathology. All pathologists are connected to the MPLN Digital Pathology Network.

Expansion of MPLN Biopharma Services

MPLN Validates new NGS Myeloid panel

MPLN supports IVD Study for New Colorectal Cancer Screening Assay

MPLN supports IVD Study for New Colorectal Cancer Screening Assay

MPLN supports IVD Study for New Colorectal Cancer Screening Assay

MPLN becomes approved collaborator with Kolon Life Sciences

Developed assays and studies for the world's first cell & gene therapy for osteoarthritis, TG-C

LIS Blue verion 7.0

Released 4th Generation web-enabled LIS; Permitting global access

ISO15189 accreditation

Genomic Solutions Division and Next Generation Sequencing

Genomic Solutions Division and Next Generation Sequencing technology launched; purchased 1st first FDA approved illumina MiSeqDX system sold in the US; Invested in 10 color flow cytometry with purchase of Beckman Coulter Navios® flow cytometry systems. Implemented Partners Program with first two large, integrated oncology practices.

Pathology Partnerships Program

Pathology Partnerships Program implementation; Purchased Gen-Probe's PANTHER® System to expand testing for STD's Trichomonas Vaginalis and enable random access loading

IT Infrastructure

MPLN began building the IT infrastructure and colocation facility to support our Next-Generation Sequencing efforts. Modern and mobile-friendly websites were developed for both MPLN and Geneuity, as well as Indigo, the iOS app component of our LIS.

Validated Trichomonas Vaginalis by TMA...

Validated Trichomonas Vaginalis by TMA on Gen-Probe's Tigris® system. Performed 510K data collection for Gen-Probe Panther®

Expanded test menu...

The New Year provides MPLN with ample opportunities to expand its test menu. So far the laboratory has validated several new markers by IHC and CISH, including the DOG1 marker for GIST.

Celebrating 20 years of success...

MPLN, with five laboratories and approximately 130 employees, celebrated its 20th anniversary July 1, 2009. In an effort to make a difference in healthcare for another 20 years, MPLN added the KRAS mutation test and BRAF analysis to the oncology test menu. These tests assist with identifying colorectal cancer patients most likely to show limited clinical response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapies.

MPLN expanded its anatomic pathology...

MPLN expanded its anatomic pathology laboratory and opened a second Ascendant Medical Laboratory in Memphis to serve the West Tennessee medical community. 2008 was another award winning year. MPLN was presented with the Pinnacle Innovator Award by the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and a marketing award from the Diagnostic Marketing Association. A grassroots effort led by MPLN resulted in proclamations in eight states that recognized May 19 as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Day and the last week in July as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Week.

Clinical Research Services

MPLN expanded its clinical research division to form a dedicated clinical trials company, Geneuity™ Clinical Research Services. MPLN also developed an ABL gene mutation test to detect Gleevec® resistance in CML and implemented the JAK2 V617F quantitative assay for chronic myeloproliferative disease. MPLN won a Business Excellence Award from the Knoxville Chamber and two marketing awards from the Diagnostic Marketing Association. MPLN also developed Symphony™, an information exchange system that provides seamless connectivity to clients.

Named the anchor tenant...

MPLN was named the anchor tenant for a future 450-acre R & D Park in Blount County. To meet MPLN’s expected growth over the next three to five years, the new laboratory is expected to be approximately 65-75,000 square feet. MPLN reached 100 employees in 2006, installed Luminex™ technology platform and opened immunohistochemistry laboratory. MPLN was also one of the first regional reference laboratories in the Southeast to offer the CellSearch™ Circulating Tumor Cell, now used as an aid in monitoring metastatic breast, colorectal and prostate cancers.

Opened a clinical reference laboratory...

MPLN opened a clinical reference laboratory, Ascendant Medical Laboratory, in Knoxville, TN., offering routine and specialty testing to clinicians throughout East Tennessee. Ascendant complements MPLN’s offerings and provides a single source for reference laboratory testing. MPLN's Research and Development division participated in its first clinical trial. MPLN also validated CT/NG testing on SurePath™ liquid cytology and was one of the first laboratories in the country to offer CT/NG and HPV testing on both SurePath and ThinPrep® liquid cytology media.

Named a Molecular Center of Excellence...

In early 2004, Roche Diagnostics Corporation designated MPLN as a member of the Molecular Centers of Excellence Alliance. A few months later, MPLN celebrated its 15th anniversary, and opened a cytogenetics laboratory. That same year, MPLN developed quantitative PCR for minimal residual disease detection for chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute promyelocytic leukemia.

MPLN implemented gene rearrangements...

In 2003, MPLN implemented gene rearrangements by PCR, a very fast technique that assesses clonality in lymphoproliferative disorders. Because PCR is extremely sensitive and requires small quantities of DNA, it has been applied to small biopsies and fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

MPLN expanded its services...

In April 2002, MPLN expanded services by opening a satellite flow cytometry laboratory in Richmond, Va. and a dedicated research and development laboratory in Maryville. The laboratory also implemented UroVysion™ Bladder Cancer screen by FISH, validated HCII HPV assay on SurePath™ liquid cytology, and earned a New York license that year.

MPLN opens new lab...

MPLN opened the doors to a new 27,000-square-foot facility in 2001 in downtown Maryville, where the network's headquarters remain today.

Collaborated with Gen-Probe...

In 2000, MPLN collaborated with Gen-Probe on BCR/ABL by TMA to determine BCR/ABL transcript levels in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. The laboratory also validated Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing on ThinPrep® media, becoming one of the first laboratories in the country to offer CT/NG and HPV testing on a single specimen.

MPLN implemented HER2/neu by FISH...

In 1999, MPLN implemented HER2/neu by FISH, which is used as an adjunct to existing clinical and pathologic information when analyzing prognostic factors in stage II, node-positive breast cancer patients. The laboratory also validated HIV sequence-based mutation analysis and the Hybrid Capture II® assay for human papillomavirus.

A new generation of diagnostic testing...

In June 1998, the complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was published. The complete sequence of the approximately 4,400,000-base-pair Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome offered the foundation for a new generation of diagnostic testing.

Implemented HER2/neu...

MPLN validated HER2/neu by Oncor, Inc., the first gene-based test for predicting whether a cancer will recur.

The test menu continues to grow...

The test menu MPLN offers continues to grow with a focus on infectious diseases and women’s health, growing at a rate of more than 30 percent.

Obtained license for PCR...

MPLN earned a license from Roche Molecular Systems to perform diagnostic testing using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ), a Nobel-prize winning technology used to amplify, or copy on a large scale, specific DNA sequences.

Validated Gen-Probe® M. Tuberculosis...

In 1994, MPLN validated Gen-Probe® Mycobacterium tuberculosis by transcription-mediated amplification, a process for increasing the number of target nucleic acid sequences to allow detection of a single nucleic acid molecule.

Developed and validated a quantitative...

MPLN developed and validated a quantitative viral load assay for hepatitis C virus using polymerase chain reaction to reveal the presence of the virus in the blood and confirm an ongoing HCV infection.

Dr. Hubbard was one of the first...

In 1992, Dr. Roger Hubbard, founder, president and CEO of MPLN, graduated from the FBI Forensic DNA Analysis program. He was one of the first laboratory directors to graduate from the program.

Implemented flow cytometry for ploidy...

MPLN implemented flow cytometry for ploidy and leukemia/lymphoma analysis in 1991. With a turnaround time of one day, flow cytometry is highly specific and sensitive for the evaluation of leukemia, lymphoma and other hematological abnormalities.

Implemented gene rearrangements...

In 1990, MPLN implemented gene rearrangements by Southern blot hybridization analysis, which was proven to be a helpful tool to establish clonality in T cell leukemias and lymphomas at that time.

Dr. Roger Hubbard founded MPLN

In 1989, Dr. Roger Hubbard founded MPLN in a 400-square-foot laboratory in Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tenn. During that first year, MPLN earned CAP accreditation, validated the HPV in situ hybridization assay and was one of the first laboratories in the country to offer testing for human papillomavirus (HPV).