Get the latest biotech news where you want it. Sign up for the free GenePool newsletter today!
25th June 2013 -- Medical diagnostic technology specialist Dr Roger Duggan, formerly of Immunodiagnostic Systems plc (IDS), has joined the board of the life sciences company Orla Protein Technologies Ltd.
The appointment comes at the same time as new investment in the business which will be used to fund an expansion of the company’s activities in advanced protein technology and medical diagnostic applications.
Dr Duggan has considerable experience in this sector as one of the founders and a former chief executive of medical test kit maker IDS. In over thirty years with IDS, he helped to expand its international business and scientific expertise in specialist diagnostic tests kits and assays for clinical and research markets worldwide.
Dr Duggan left IDS late last year and has now taken the opportunity to join Orla in a new role as non-executive director.
Orla has successfully patented, developed and commercialised new protein-based biosurface engineering concepts that are used in a range of scientific and laboratory-based research applications involving stem cells and other cell cultures.
This is a growing area for Orla and Dr Duggan’s expertise in patient testing technology and medical instrumentation will also be particularly relevant to the activities of its subsidiary company, OJ Bio Ltd.
OJ-Bio Ltd is a joint venture with the major Japanese wireless communications company, Japan Radio Company (JRC), bringing together Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) electronics with advanced protein coating technology.
The result is a new medical diagnostics biosensor platform that translates antibody-antigen binding events into an electronic signal, combining real time disease diagnosis with inbuilt wireless connectivity for use in hand held medical devices.
This new biochip technology is currently being used in clinical studies on new techniques for the remote diagnosis of HIV, respiratory viruses and periodontal gum disease.
Dale Athey, Orla chief executive, said: “Across all areas of the business, Orla now has fully validated technology platforms and considerable scientific know how that will provide the basis for new growth.
“Roger’s international expertise in clinical and medical markets is particularly well suited to our interest in mobile and remote diagnostic device applications with OJ Bio and we are very much looking forward to his involvement in the Group’s continuing development.”
Dr. Duggan joined RIA (UK), the forerunner to IDS, in 1981. He served as the company’s development scientist, laboratory manager and scientific director and became managing director after a 1996 management buy-out. IDS floated in 2004 and he became group CEO in 2007, followed by a period as deputy chairman and business development director. He left the company in September last year.
Media contacts: Issued on behalf of Orla and OJ-Bio by MHW PR.
For more details please contact Ian Watson or Andy Bruce on 0191 233 1300 (ian@mhwpr.co.uk)
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
