Food diagnostics developer adds to its scientific leadership

Laval, QC October 2, 2003 Food safety technology developer Warnex today announced that Dr Yvan P Ct has joined the company as vice president, research and development. Dr Ct will be supported in his new role by the formation of Warnex’s Scientific Advisory Board, whose inaugural members will include Dr Pierre Belhumeur from the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of Montreal and Dr Susan Harlander, president of BIOrational Consultants, a US consulting firm specializing in food and agricultural biotechnology issues.

“We are absolutely committed as an organization to having access to the best scientific counsel and leadership,” says Mark Busgang, president & CEO of Warnex. “Now that our core Genevision food-safety technology is being installed at our first customers, we want to ensure ongoing excellence and innovation in product development. Under Dr Ct’s leadership, Warnex will continue to grow its pipeline of products while maintaining the highest standards of scientific rigour.”

Prior to taking up his new role at Warnex, Dr Ct spent several years at Adaltis (formerly BioChem Immunosystems) where he was director of research and development and director, clinical laboratory microbiology. Dr Ct holds a PhD in cellular biology from the University of Sherbrooke and has been awarded several fellowships. He is also the author of a number of publications in his field and lectures frequently at diagnostic sector conferences.

Dr Pierre Belhumeur who holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Montreal, is broadly recognized by both academia and industry as a leading authority in food safety. He has consulted frequently with private sector food companies such as Saputo and Natrel on the issue of detecting microcontaminants in food. He currently is associate professor at the department of microbiology and immunology of the University of Montreal, where he has been instrumental in creating research avenues related to food microbiology. Dr Belhumeur also holds the Saputo Research Chair in dairy products from the University of Montreal. He has authored many articles and currently serves as advisor on funding agencies including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Prior to creating BIOrational Consultants, Dr Susan Harlander was vice president biotechnology development and agricultural research at Pillsbury. She holds a PhD in food science and nutrition from the University of Minnesota, where she ultimately became an associate professor of food biotechnology. Dr Harlander is author or co-author of more than 110 journal articles and has served on numerous government agency advisory committees in the US, including the FDA’s Food Advisory Committee and USDA’s Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee.