WORCESTER, MA – Grove Instruments Inc., a medical device company based in Worcester, MA, developing the world’s first noninvasive glucometer today announced that Craig Mello, Ph.D. is joining the Board of Directors. Dr. Mello is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and the Blais University Chair of Molecular Medicine and Co-Director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. Dr. Mello’s pioneering research on RNA inhibition (RNAi), in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Fire, has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards culminating with the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. “We are building a world class medical technology company and the addition of Dr. Mello to our Board is another step in our continuing quest for excellence at every level,” said Arthur Combs, CEO of Grove.
Dr. Mello’s renown in the scientific community is equaled only by his dedication to the care of people with diabetes. His passion and commitment for diabetes care emanate from a deeply personal experience raising a child with type 1 diabetes. “Experiencing the 24-hour-a-day every day nature of this disease, really makes you appreciate the tremendous potential benefit of Grove’s technology,” says Mello. After 2 years as an Advisor to the Company Dr. Mello decided “I wanted more involvement – an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the success of the Company and its technology.”
“Having a man of science with Dr. Mello’s credentials and gravitas is just fantastic for the Company,” noted Dr. Paul Lock, career diabetologist and longest seated Board member. Dr. Robert Peura, Grove Co-founder and father of two children with type 1 diabetes said “This is just terrific! I know how powerful it will be to have Craig join us – I know he truly understands the needs of children with diabetes, and how Grove can help.”
“This has been a landmark year for Grove – technologically and organizationally. Having Dr. Mello join us is the perfect culmination to a great year, and a huge head start on the future,” said Combs of Grove’s Board being enhanced by the Nobel Laureate.
About Grove Instruments
Grove Instruments, Inc. is a privately held pre-market medical device company developing the world’s first noninvasive glucometer with the potential to exceed the ISO standard for blood glucose meters. Grove’s patented technology is based on the seminal concept of the Optical Bridge and is unique among all NIR spectroscopic approaches to noninvasive blood glucose determination. The Company has been recognized for its innovation, technology development and clinical results on 10 separate occasions by the NIH NIDDK with funded SBIR Grants. In 2011, Grove was also recognized by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center with an Accelerator Award – one of only 4 recipients out of all Boston-area life sciences companies applying in that round. For more information see www.groveinstruments.com or contact Arthur Combs (314 341 3444 mobile).
