Montreal-based MannaResearch, a group of independent clinical research centers, has announced acquired Kells Medical Research Group, a Montreal-based clinical investigator site.

The purchase represents the fourth Canadian research center MannaResearch has acquired in the past 15 months and its first in Montreal. With more than 15 years of clinical trial experience, Kells has a database of more than 200,000 patients. The acquisition brings the MannaResearch patient database to 350,000. 

“This acquisition represents a strategic addition to our expanding group of sites, helping us attain our goal of simplifying clinical research in Canada for pharmaceutical companies,” said Dr. Graham Wood, MannaResearch’s chief executive officer.

MannaResearch has been conducting clinical studies since 1996 and is now operating in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City. It plans to add more sites within Canada over the next few years.