We are pleased to announce the launch of a new program designed to support the Master’s Degree in Molecular Diagnostic Science. The MDS Corporate Partners program recognizes the close link between molecular diagnostic testing in the clinical laboratory and the products, services, and technology offered by the private sector. The new MMDS program is important to the leaders in the molecular diagnostics industry because they understand the need for qualified laboratory professionals who can perform molecular tests, bring new assays into a laboratory, and work with issues related to molecular testing, such as information systems.
The support and collaboration of members of the molecular diagnostic industry is very important to the MMDS program. Resources are needed to promote the program to potential students, provide financial aid to students, purchase reagents and equipment for laboratory courses, fund MDS course development, support student research and fund faculty development. In addition, the expertise of leaders in the molecular industry will add to the MMDS students’ understanding of the development and marketing of molecular tests, reagents and instrumentation.

Dr. Thomas Huard, the Scientific Director of Molecular Diagnostics at Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, serves as a member of the CLS Development Advisory Board and was instrumental in the development of the MDS Corporate Partner program. We are also grateful to Allison Foil, a CLS graduate (’00) and member of the Development Advisory Board for her work on the MDS Corporate Partner program. Allison Foil and Tom Huard worked closely with Kyle Gray, the AHS Director of Development in providing information about the program to potential partners.

We will officially celebrate the launch of the MDS Corporate Partners program on June 11th, 2009, when the new Master’s Degree students will be on campus for courses. Thanks to the generosity of the MDS Corporate partners, we will be able to offer scholarships to several of these students.

The MDS Corporate Partners and the company representatives who made this contribution possible are listed below. We are very excited about our partnerships with these leading companies in the molecular diagnostic industry and we are extremely grateful for their support.

Founding GOLD-level MDS Corporate Partners

	Quest Diagnostics Dr. Thomas Huard, Scientific Director of Molecular Diagnostics
	ZeptoMetrix Corporation Dr. James Hengst, President and CEO
	Roche Diagnostics Corporation Mr. Michael V. Nigro, VP Corporate Accounts
	McKesson Corporation Dr. Andrew Mellin, VP of Advanced Clinical Technologies
	Abbott Molecular Mike J. Palm, Global Marketing Manager
	BD Molecular Diagnostics Bill Hastings, MT(ASCP), Director of Sales
	Gen-Probe Brian Hansen, VP of North American Sales
	Applied Biosystems Laura Cunningham, Executive Account Manager | Molecular Biology Systems Sallie Davis Kerr, ,Senior Account Manager

For more information about becoming a MDS corporate partner, contact Kyle Gray (919.966-3352 or Kyle_Gray@med.unc.edu).
Download information and a registration form [pdf file]