Research at Great Falls, MT Campus

Montana Research Laboratories

TouroCOM research facilities include labs and resources on the Montana campus and at the McLaughlin Research Institute that together support advanced research in:

Clinical Translational Research

Clinical Research at the Montana Campus and the McLaughlin Research Institute provides the infrastructure necessary to aid in clinical/translational projects initiated by faculty, potential sponsors and partnering health providers. This includes all necessary training, HIPPA-compliant data storage, and active regulatory assurances as part of a full regulatory framework. This also includes logistical partners such as laboratories to provide in clinic or in home draws throughout Central Montana and partnerships are in in development to expand sample collection capabilities to the far corners of the state. Finally, our clinical translational research promotes and maintains the HERO (Helping Expand Research Opportunities) Registry for a Healthier Montana. The HERO registry is the first patient registry in the state of Montana and provides a database of potential participants across the state of Montana that agree to be contacted should they qualify for a future clinical study or clinical trial. 

Laboratory Facilities and Animal Resource Center

The main laboratories for basic science research are at the McLaughlin Research Institute, which also houses the Animal Resource Center for the Montana campus. The McLaughlin Research Institute is a 44,000-square-foot building two blocks from the main campus. In addition to individual lab space, the Institute hosts an enhanced BSL-2 facility and is fully equipped for molecular genetics and tissue culture with equipment necessary for prion research and human subjects research. The institute also hosts several research core facilities including the Transgenic Mouse and Cell Line Facility, the Protein Core Facility, and the Flow Cytometry/Cell Sorting Facility. The Animal Resource Center is designed exclusively for preclinical studies in mice, allowing efficient animal care, fewer demands for veterinary oversight, and, consequently, per diem rates lower than most other institutions. The ARC is fully accredited by AAALAC and occupies approximately 13,000 sq. ft. 

Epidemiology and Mental Health

The Montana campus has private and state partners that provide access to epidemiological and electronic health record data from the state of Montana. These data are used in projects to investigate potential causes of the high suicide rate in the state of Montana, understand the current gaps in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in the state, and investigate pregnancy outcomes and mortality, among others.

Neurology, Neurodegeneration, and Aging

The faculty of individual laboratories at the McLaughlin Research Institute are focused primarily on neurology, neurodegeneration, and aging with studies in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, ALS, and chronic wasting disease. Other faculty there focus on metabolic disease and rare genetic disorders. 

Clinical Case Studies

At the Montana campus, both students and faculty participate, in collaboration with neighboring healthcare providers, on clinical case studies and reports in collaboration. The clinical case studies contribute to our knowledge of clinical practice, provide for interaction with our clinical partners, and provide opportunity for presentations and publications. 

Pain Research

Clinical observations have demonstrated varying responses to anesthetics. Studies at the Montana campus on focused on variant responses to common local anesthetics such as lidocaine. Research on varying sensitivities to anesthetics is the subject of clinical study and contemporaneous studies in model systems. 

Metabolic Disease

A central hypothesis regarding diabetes and protein misfolding is under investigation at the Touro Montana campus. Misfolding and aggregation of the 51 amino acid insulin protein was previously described in two separate clinical condition during insulin therapy in diabetic patients: 1) after delivery of large boluses subcutaneously, and 2) when insulin is in prolonged presence of plastic tubing. The impact of protein misfolding on long-term outcomes such as insulin resistance is the subject of research. 

Educational Research

An expanding area of research is in education of students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biology and Physical Sciences programs in Montana. The launch of a new school of osteopathic medicine in a region of the United States, not previously served, provides the opportunity to track educational outcomes and impacts on community health. 

Researchers from the McLaughlin Research Institute and Touro – Montana launch the HERO (Helping Expand Research Opportunities) Registry for clinical trial inclusion, at the Montana Agricultural Exposition. 

Protein biochemistry laboratory.

Some of our research is aimed at understanding Alzheimer’s disease and the immune system and gut microbiome in our cell culture and laboratory facilities of >35,000 square feet.