Associated Press - November 25, 2009 7:34 AM ET

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Two Montana biomedical research institutes are getting a big funding boost from the state.

The Montana Department of Commerce said it is granting $2.5 Million to Great Falls' McLaughlin Research Institute and the Missoula-based International Heart Institute of Montana Foundation.

The agency says the awards will help expand research and technology and create cutting-edge jobs.

The money was originally set aside by the Legislature earlier this year to go toward such research.

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