Mason Research Institute
(Evaluated smoking machines for animal inhalation studies) Evaluated smoking machines for animal inhalation studies and did toxicity tests on rodents.The abbreviation for Mason Research Institute is MRI. They are located in Worster, MA. In 1968, the Council for Tobacco Research contracted with Mason Research Institute to evaluate smoking machines for animal inhalation studies and do toxicity tests on rodents. As the study drew to a close in 1972, Mason researcher Miasnig Hagopian was astonished when scientists from the CTR and RJRT began turning up weekly as his lab, taking notes for hours, they made sure that only the most genetically vigorous (e.g. cancer-resistant) rodents were going to be used, he says, and dictated which cigarettes and how many puffs were administered (WSJ 2/11/93). It got to the point where they , CTR and RJRT scientists) were directing the course of the study. The CTR cancelled the study before Mason began the animal study re: whether smoke affects rodents' lung tissues (WSJ 2/11/93).