Cetero Research Adds New Medical Director and Principal Investigators.

CARY, N.C. -- Cetero Research, a world leader in early clinical, bioanalytical, and niche late stage research services announces Ramon Vargas, MD, MPH, FACCP, as the new Medical Director at Cetero's St. Charles, MO, facility and Robert Cooper, MD, and Gregory Haugen, MD, as Principal Investigators at their Fargo, ND, facility.

"Experienced medical investigators are an important element in the successful, safe conduct of early clinical trials," said Jerry Merritt, CEO, Cetero Research. "We are particularly pleased to have these three very qualified physicians join our staff in their new roles."

In the medical director role, Dr. Vargas will oversee the conduct of studies, supervise the medical staff and work with Cetero's clients to provide clinical pharmacology expertise. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has served as a Medical Director and consultant in clinical pharmacology to many global pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations.

"I am delighted Dr. Ramon Vargas has joined our team," said Steve Unwin, President, Gateway Medical Research - Cetero Research. "He is one of the most experienced Phase I investigators in the United States and provides superior medical knowledge and understanding of the drug development process."

Dr. Vargas received a bachelor of biological sciences from Colegio Franco Espanol and attended medical school at Facultad de Medicina at the National Autonomus University of Mexico, both in Mexico City. He spent more than 15 years working with Dr. F. Gilbert McMahon at the Tulane School of Medicine, Therapeutics Section Department of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. He has an extensive list of licenses and certificates including: Certified by the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology and the Council for Foreign Medical Graduates, licensed in West Virginia, Louisiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Missouri. He is a member of several scientific societies and he has published many papers on Clinical Pharmacology.

Robert Cooper, MD, and Gregory Haugen, MD, were recently appointed as Principal Investigators at Cetero's Fargo, ND, facility.

Dr. Cooper has served as a medical investigator for PRACS Institute - Cetero Research, Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the Fargo VA hospital, Medical Director for Workforce, Safety and Insurance, and held a private practice in Fargo, ND. He received an MBBS from St. George's Hospital Medical School of London University, UK, and has a North Dakota Medical License.

Dr. Haugen's previous experience includes the role as a medical investigator for PRACS Institute - Cetero Research and as an emergency physician for MeritCare, in Fargo, ND. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine and Health Sciences and has a North Dakota Medical License. He has served as a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of several scientific societies.

"The addition of Drs. Cooper and Haugen to our staff allows our Fargo and East Grand Forks sites to continue to grow our bioequivalence, drug-drug interaction and Thorough QT studies," said Alan Copa, President, PRACS Institute - Cetero Research.

Cetero offers a full spectrum of services from early clinical research through late stage to meet the needs of the biotechnology, generic and pharmaceutical industries. Cetero's expertise is unparalleled in the early clinical research and bioanalytical industries with a foundation of more than 24 years of experience, 1,660 beds - including 146 dedicated hospital beds - along with bioanalytical method development, validation, and sample analysis.

About Cetero Research:

Cetero Research is the union of PRACS Institute, Ltd., Gateway Medical Research, Ba Research International, Allied Research International, and dgd Research. Detailed company information is available at www.cetero.com or by contacting April Johnson at 919.468.4214 or [e-mail]