bioMérieux Announces Management Change
Alain Mérieux, president of bioMérieux, recently announced that Stephane Bancel has joined the bioMérieux management team. Bancel will work with Benoit Adelus, executive vice president, in preparation for assuming management of the company in January 2007.

Since 2001, Adelus has successfully piloted bioMérieux’s development, its integration of Organon Teknika, and its initial public offering on the French stock exchange. He has also deleveraged bioMérieux and refocused the company on its core businesses, obtaining steady growth in share value. Alain Mérieux has asked Adelus to join him at Mérieux Alliance.

“I would like to thank Benoit Adelus for the work he has accomplished in our company over the past 6 years,” Mérieux says. “This new organization will enable me to facilitate the transition to a new generation of Mérieux at the helm of the company. I have always made certain that changes take place in a concerted manner that is completely transparent to our shareholders, our employees, our customers, and our partners.”

From 1995 to 1998, Bancel worked at bioMérieux in Japan, where he was in charge of the industrial microbiology business for the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, he has worked in the United States, Great Britain, and Belgium for Eli Lilly, where he has been managing director since 2004.

Hammett-Stabler Receives Award From AACC
Catherine A. Hammett-Stabler, PhD, director of the clinical toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and pediatric metabolism laboratories, and associate director of the core laboratory, of the McLendon Clinical Laboratories at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Hospitals in Chapel Hill, has received the 2006 Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). As an associate professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at UNC, her responsibilities focus on service and education. Her UNC students include undergraduates in the clinical laboratory science program, second-year medical and dental students, graduate students, residents, and fellows. She is also codirector of the UNC Hospital’s postdoctoral training program in clinical chemistry.

Mnayer Joins Clinical Laboratory Partners
Laila O. Mnayer, PhD, has been named director, molecular pathology and cytogenetics, for Clinical Laboratory Partners. She will have responsibilities at both the Newington Core Lab facility and the Hartford Hospital Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Mnayer will support the laboratory’s commitment to education by providing lectures to the pathology residents, medical technology students, and laboratory staff. She will also oversee resident education in molecular pathology, and will be responsible for scientific and technical oversight of the molecular pathology laboratories and associated areas.

Larson Joins Alpha-Tec Systems
Alpha-Tec Systems Inc has hired Jason A. Larson, PhD, as chief clinical development scientist. He has more than a decade of experience studying the molecular determinants of infectious diseases, and he will provide guidance to the development of new diagnostic technologies, driving future business developments.

Larson, a research and development professional with extensive experience in immunology, molecular microbiology, and cell biology, has experience with innovative techniques to study host-pathogen interactions. He will lead a team of researchers in developing new infectious-disease diagnostics as well as establishing new methodologies for the procedural presentation of the diagnostic devices to clinical laboratories.

ARUP Laboratories Appoints Messing
As part of the expansion of its client-outreach services, ARUP Laboratories has hired Anne Messing as outreach-development manager. She will work closely with clients to maximize growth through effective outreach programs. Messing has more than 15 years of experience in the health care industry, including extensive experience in laboratory operations and management, funding procurement for capital equipment and budgets, and other laboratory-related business disciplines. Prior to joining ARUP, Messing served as administrative director of clinical laboratories at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

“We are delighted to welcome Anne, especially at this stage in the development of ARUP Direct. Her industry experience and track record are impeccable. Her understanding of hospital laboratory outreach, combined with her awareness of the challenges faced by lab managers, will provide expert insight to our team,” says Khosrow Shotorbani, senior vice president and director of sales at ARUP.

“I am so excited to join the ARUP team in this new role,” Messing says. “This is an opportune time to expand our outreach offerings in order to help our health-system partners meet their outreach business goals in ways ARUP hasn’t done before. The outreach market continues to evolve, and ARUP Laboratories is committed to helping our customers develop solutions for the various new challenges that are being presented.”

Reid to Receive Women in Transfusion Award
In recognition of her work in education, training, and research, and her contributions in the area of transfusion medicine, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS) will award Marion Reid, PhD, director, Laboratory of Immunohematology at New York Blood Center, the 2006 International Women in Transfusion Award. Reid will receive the award during the AABB’s Annual Meeting in Miami Beach in October.

“I am deeply honored to receive this year’s award,” Reid says. “It is an incredible feeling to know that my efforts are appreciated and to be recognized by my professional organizations. I thank them for this wonderful recognition.”

Reid has had much experience working in hospitals, corporations, and blood services in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She has spent a great deal of time performing original research and has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articles. In 1977, she and coworker Christine Lomas-Francis coauthored Blood Group Antigens Facts Book, a reference manual for use in the immunohematology laboratory.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr Reid for being named the winner of this year’s International Women in Transfusion Award,” says Robert L. Jones, MD, president/CEO of New York Blood Center.

The International Women in Transfusion Award, established in 2004 by AABB, BBTS, and ISBT, honors women for lifetime achievements in transfusion medicine and science.

Dade Behring Hires Balk
Lance Balk has joined Dade Behring Inc as senior vice president and general counsel. He is responsible for all global legal activities for the company.

“We are excited to have Lance join Dade Behring in this important leadership role,” says Jim Reid-Anderson, chairman, president, and CEO of Dade Behring. “With his extensive experience in securities and corporate law, Lance will bring tremendous value to Dade Behring.”

Axela Biosensors Appoints VP, Sales and Marketing
Paul Smith has been named vice president, sales and marketing, for Axela Biosensors Inc.

“Paul brings 25 years of experience and a diverse background in the life-science instrumentation field, having held senior appointments in sales, marketing, and field operations,” says Rocky Ganske, president and CEO, Axela Biosensors Inc. “Paul’s proven capabilities and specific industry knowledge for commercializing new technologies through direct sales, and collaborative partnerships with academic and pharmaceutical clients, will prove key to the successful launch and commercialization of our dotLab™ system.”

Smith previously held the position of vice president, sales Europe and North America, for Ciphergen Biosystems Inc. He also held a variety of positions in his 8 years at Beckman Coulter.