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CORVALLIS, Ore. - An Oregon institute that accelerates the discovery and commercialization of micro-channel chemical, biological and physical systems has named as its new director a researcher from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

Landis Kannberg, a program manager in PNNL's Process Science and Engineering Resources Division, will assume the leadership role this month of the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute (MBI), a collaboration of Oregon State University and PNNL. The MBI partners and shares space with Oregon's first signature research center, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, or ONAMI, which also includes the University of Oregon and Portland State University.

Kannberg takes the new position as OSU mechanical engineering professor Kevin Drost reduces his role in anticipation of retirement. Kannberg and Drost have served as co-directors of the MBI since the institute's inception in 2002. Kannberg also will hold a courtesy faculty position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at OSU.

So far, MBI collaborations include more than $10 million in research and development projects, including a technology used in a heat-activated, portable cooling unit and a micro-scale blood filter that is enabling development of a portable kidney dialysis device.

"The MBI brings OSU professors and students alongside PNNL experts who all work together to fast-track technologies to market, spinning off new companies and products, creating new jobs, and helping develop top engineering talent for this region," said Ron Adams, dean of the OSU College of Engineering. "Landis will continue to do great things at the MBI in his new role."

Kannberg earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from OSU in 1977. He has been with PNNL for more than 30 years and will relocate to Corvallis in November.