• Linda Davrath has been named head of clinical research and clinical application for BSP Medical (Tel Aviv, Israel). Amir Beker, BSP's CEO, said "Dr. Davrath has vast and valuable experience in the field of cardiopulmonary physiology." BSP provides solutions for the diagnosis and monitoring of heart disease.
  • Vinciane Gaussin, PhD, was named chief scientific officer of Cardio3 BioSciences (Braine L'alleud, Belgium). Most recently, Gaussin was an assistant professor in the department of cell biology and molecular medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Cardio3 BioSciences is a biotechnology company focused on regenerating heart muscle via cardiac lineage-committed stem cell therapy.
  • Haemonetics (Braintree, Massachusetts) reported Tom Lawlor's resignation as president of the company's patient division. Haemonetics is a healthcare company specializing in providing blood management solutions.
  • Thomas Mann has been named CEO of Mediware Information Systems (Lenexa, Kansas). Mann previously spent more than 20 years with 3M's healthcare information technology division. Mediware delivers blood and medication management software systems.
  • Micrus Endovascular (San Jose, California) reported that its board has named John Kilcoyne to the position of chairman and has promoted Robert Stern to COO. Kilcoyne, who had served as Micrus' president/CEO and director since 2004, will continue to serve as the company's CEO. Stern, who had served as executive VP and CFO since 2004, will continue to oversee the company's financial operations until a new CFO is named. Micrus makes both implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of neurovascular diseases.
  • Daniel Cole was named the new chairman of the board of OmniSonics Medical Technologies (Wilmington, Massachusetts). Cole is a founding partner with Spray Venture Partners. OmniSonics Medical Technologies makes medical devices for occlusive vascular disease.
  • St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, Minnesota) reported the appointment of several executives to new roles, effective Jan. 1. St. Jude said it is creating two new group president roles. Joe McCullough, currently president of St. Jude Medical International Division, and Mike Rousseau, currently president of the U.S. Division, will be promoted to these newly created roles. George Fazio, currently president of the cardiovascular division, will become the new president of the U.S. division, and Denis Gestin, currently president of St. Jude Medical Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada, will become the new president of the International division. Gary Taylor, currently VP/GM of the neuromodulation business internationally, will become the new president of St. Jude Medical Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada. Amy Boyle, currently VP of marketing for the International division, will be promoted to the newly created position of VP of corporate brand and marketing. Frank Callaghan, currently VP of R&D for the atrial fibrillation division, will become president of the cardiovascular division. St. Jude specializes in cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. patients' cardiovascular health. The report functions as a "Report Card" to help patients and their physicians track the results of the ACT test over time. BioReference bills itself as the largest independent regional clinical laboratory in the Northeast providing focused laboratory services on a national basis in the areas of oncology (primarily hematopathology), clinical genetics and correctional healthcare. The test uses NMR spectroscopy to analyze blood plasma samples and provide information about the number of LDL particles in the bloodstream, which is the optimal measure of LDL and of heart disease risk that LDL causes.
  • Zoll (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) reported receiving an $11.6 million contract as part of the emergency preparedness project for the State of California. Zoll says that it expects to deliver more than 1,200 M Series and AED Pro defibrillators to strategic locations within California by the end of the year. The California Department of Public Health says that it accelerated its emergency plans in response to the devastation Hurricane Katrina inflicted on the Gulf Coast in 2005. The Zoll equipment will be used as part of apreparation effort to respond to a possible pandemic resulting from an earthquake, mudslide, fire, flu outbreak, terrorist or nuclear attack. The Zoll defibrillators will be available at multiple sites in California should a large-scale event occur when patients cannot all be treated at hospitals. The units, owned by the State of California, will be maintained and warehoused at multiple sites to ensure readiness, with support provided by Zoll. The California contract is being coordinated by consolidator Global Protection Acquisition (West Berlin, New Jersey).