IRIS International Inc announces that it has appointed Lawrence J. Blecka, PhD, a senior executive with 30 years experience in medical device, diagnostics and biotechnology companies ranging from Fortune 500 to start-ups, as VP, Research and Development.
Blecka will be responsible for overseeing all research and development of the Iris Diagnostics division, in support of the advancement of the Company’s existing and emerging product pipeline.
"We are delighted to have a senior executive of Blecka’s qualifications join our management team and lead our extensive R&D initiatives for our next generation urinalysis platform and the expansion of our core technical competencies into the hematology market," stated Cesar Garcia, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IRIS International. "Dr Blecka brings to IRIS a broad range of business management skills in the in-vitro diagnostics, medical device, healthcare and biotechnology sectors. His successful track record in leading engineering and scientific teams in research, product development and regulatory affairs, as well as leading FDA submissions, clinical studies and new product launches, will play a critical role in the development of our new product pipeline. Larry is an accomplished scientist and manager with extensive experience in industry and academic medicine, and we look forward to his contributions," added Garcia.
"Based on our progress to date and the need to dedicate additional resources to simultaneously develop our urinalysis and hematology systems pipeline, we have reorganized our Iris Diagnostics R&D team into two separate system development groups, one solely dedicated to urinalysis and the other responsible for the research and development of our image-based hematology analyzer with expanded white blood cell differential counting capabilities. Both groups will report directly to Blecka. Thomas Adams, IRIS Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, will continue to lead our IRIS Molecular Diagnostics (IMD) unit with responsibility for developing our NADiA(R) platform, and oversee the overall technological direction of IRIS," Mr. Garcia said.
"I am very pleased to be joining IRIS at a time when it is making important strides in advancing its world class portfolio of innovative new products and technology," stated Blecka. "IRIS is in the forefront of laboratory automation. I am impressed with the strategic vision of the Company and the opportunity to deploy Iris Diagnostics’ core competencies into new urinalysis applications, as well as hematology and microbiology. In addition, I believe the IMD unit’s NADiA ultra-sensitive protein detection technology for cancer and HIV, represents a transformative technology that aids in the earliest detection of cancer relapse and rise in HIV viral loads. I look forward to working with the IRIS team at this exciting time," Blecka said.
Prior to joining IRIS, from 1999 to 2009, Blecka was Group Engineering Manager for the BioPlex Division of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. , a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, where he directed a team of 45 engineers for the development of its BioPlex 2200 automated immunoassay platform to analyze multiple disease markers from a single patient sample. From 1997 to 1999, he was Corporate Vice President, Research and Development for Metrika, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of multi-use disposable diabetes monitoring products, acquired by Bayer in 2006.
Before that, from 1994 to 1997, he was Corporate Vice President, Product Development of Biocircuits Corporation, where he directed a staff of 30 scientists and engineers and was responsible for all aspects of product development, having developed six new products and FDA 510(k) clearances within 18 months of joining the firm. From 1992 to 1994, he was Vice President, Research and Development of Sigma-Aldrich, Inc., Diagnostics Division, where he led the development and launched 50 new products in two and a half years.
From 1979 to 1991, Blecka had a distinguished career with Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostics Division, where he held numerous executive positions ranging from Manager of Scientific Affairs to Manager of Regulatory Affairs to Director of Research and Development and General Manager of the Cancer Business Unit, where he had worldwide P&L responsibility and grew sales to $87 million from $56 million in less than two years. As Director of Abbott’s Probe Diagnostics Venture, he developed an automated system for nucleic acid probe assays using IMx technology, which is sold today as the Abbott LCx. He also managed the development of nucleic acid probe amplification and detection assays for human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Chlamydia, among others.
Blecka began his career in 1972 at the University of Illinois, Medical Schools in Chicago, Illinois, as Assistant Professor and Technical Director Hospital Clinical Laboratory. From 1972 through 1982, he was a faculty member of the Graduate College Faculty, College of Medicine, and College of Allied Health and Medicine, University of Illinois, responsible for conducting research and teaching courses in clinical chemistry, parasitology and medical microbiology.
Blecka earned a bachelor of arts in biology from Lewis University, in 1966, a master of arts in biology (with an emphasis in molecular biology) from Northern Illinois University in 1967, and earned his doctorate in microbiology/zoology, from Southern Illinois University in 1972.
