Edward A. Byrd
Founding President and CEO
Medical Research Institute (MRI)

A visionary in the nutritional products industry, Edward A. Byrd, 45 years old, had already introduced and popularized several dietary supplements by the time he established Medical Research Institute (MRI in 1996.)

In 1986, Byrd was part of the team at Champion Nutrition that introduced the world's first metabolic enhancer, a new type of dietary drink powder for athletes. He positioned his first company, the California Body Club, as a nutritional products company that designed and sold sports nutrition supplements. Two years later, he began serving as market development and nutritional raw materials acquisitions consultant for Global Marketing Associates in San Francisco.

In 1990, he brought to market the insulin-mimicking compound, Vanadylsulfate. The concept of supporting efficacy claims with actual scientific research proved innovative as well and financially successful, and established a pattern for Byrd that he would repeat in subsequent enterprises.

Byrd's big breakthrough came in 1993, when he co-founded Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS) with $14,000 in borrowed capital and became the first company in the world to commercialize creatine monohydrate (Phosphagen™).

The costly, yet voluntary efforts of Byrd and EAS to establish clinical proof of efficacy claims transformed the sports nutrition industry. Creatine readily gained acceptance among sports medicine physicians and amateur and professional athletes. When Byrd sold his interest in the company in 1996, EAS had become the producer of the world's most popular sports nutrition product line and is now generating $200 million in annual sales.

Using proceeds from the sale of EAS, Byrd established MRI in San Bruno, CA, as a privately-held company to research and develop alpha-lipoic acid as an antioxidant enhancer of mitochondrial glucose metabolism, and a safe and effective insulin-sensitizing agent. Byrd immediately made scientific research the top priority of his company. MRI has now completed two clinical studies. The first study found that Glucotize in healthy individuals maintains the plasma level of alpha-lipoic acid in the therapeutic range for an extended period of time (several hours). An IRB-approved study evaluated the tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of Glucotize in humans. Patients received 12 weeks of active treatment and were monitored on a regular basis for glucose and lipid control, liver enzymes, along with other clinical markers. There were no significant side effects reported or changes in liver enzymes, or liver or kidney function.

The data indicates a clinically beneficial effect in regard to glucose control. Glucotize™ was administered in combination with their existing antihyperglycemic medications. There are no known drug interactions with Glucotize or alpha-lipoic acid. Medical Research Institute currently holds three patents for Glucotize in its controlled-release formula.

Soon after the development of Glucotize, Ed turned his attention back to sports nutrition for the development of NO2, the first ever extended release nitric oxide generator. This exciting and innovative technology instantly transformed the way individuals alter their body composition, improve their health, and rejuvenate their appearance. It is used by bodybuilders and other high performance athletes around the world and just recently was issued a United States patent.

The successful development of Glucotize, NO2, and other products in the pipeline, are a result of Ed Byrd's life-long interest in nutrition and the mechanics of the human body. Byrd's effort to raise the standards on the credibility of nutraceuticals has placed him at the vanguard of the largely unregulated dietary supplement industry. He continues to keep a sharp watch for promising, all-natural ingredients that can be formulated to treat degenerative diseases and improve the lives of everyone.