Northern Colorado companies and universities will collect more than $7.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants aimed at medical research.

In Northern Colorado, Colorado State University will receive $7.3 million for 24 research projects. The largest grant is $1.7 million for the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. The University of Northern Colorado will receive $198,260 for a program focused on reducing medical complications associated with injection drug use.

Several local companies also received awards:

• Advanced MicroLabs LLC, Fort Collins --$32,240;
• Inviragen LLC, Fort Collins -- $16,704;
• Plasma Controls LLC, Fort Collins -- $99,996;
• Synkera Technologies Inc., Longmont -- $21,495.

"This is a great day for medical research and manufacturing in Colorado," said Rep. Betsy Markey, in a prepared statement. "These funds are going to the best research institutions in Colorado to help conduct research, manufacture and supply medical equipment, and to build and improve laboratories and research facilities -- all of which creates the kinds of jobs that will grow our economy now and for years to come."

President Barack Obama announced today a total of $5 billion in grants for 12,000 medical research projects around the United States. In all, Colorado has received 185 ARRA grants through the National Institutes of Health. In Northern Colorado -- or the 4th Congressional District -- there have been 30 projects awarded, including the group announced today.