• Cerus (Concord, California) said that Laurence Corash, MD, has been promoted to senior VP and chief medical officer. Corash is a co-founder of Cerus, a board member and has been a member of the senior management team at Cerus since 1994. Cerus is a biomedical products company developing the Intercept blood system to enhance blood safety.

• Earl DeCarli has been named group VP of care continuum services, for Hill-Rom a business of Hillenbrand Industries (both Batesville, Indiana). DeCarli previously worked for The Hygenic Corporation. Hill-Rom manufactures hospital and home healthcare equipment.

• Robert Star, MD, has been named director of the division of kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD), a unit of the National Institutes of Health. Star has been acting director of the extramural research division since September 2006. The NIDDKD conducts and supports research in diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.

• John Cobb has been named president/CEO of Senior Lifestyle (Chicago). Cobb previously spent 10 years at GE Healthcare Financial Services. Senior Lifestyle makes and manages senior housing communities.