HELENA - 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 said 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.