Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Tue, December 2, 2008
Mon, December 1, 2008
Synovis Life Technologies Names Daniel L. Mooradian Vice President of Research and Development
ST. PAUL, Minn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Synovis Life Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNO), a diversified medical device company, has named Daniel L. Mooradian, Ph.D., vice president of research and development, effective today. Mooradian is returning to Synovis, where he was director of research and development and principal scientist from 2001 to 2004. He succeeds recently retired B. Nicholas Oray, Ph.D., vice president of research and development for the last 10 years.
"Dan has a Ph.D. in experimental pathology and an impressive medical device research background, having worked at Boston Scientific and other medical companies. We are excited to have him back," said Richard W. Kramp, Synovis Life Technologies president and chief executive officer. "With more than 20 years of experience in both industry and academia, including several years at Synovis, he can hit the ground running, because he knows our technology so well, particularly our Veritas® remodelable biomaterial.
"Priorities for Dan and the R&D team will be advancing applications based on our versatile Veritas biomaterial, including AV (arterial venous) fistula repair and our early-stage work on replacing non-functioning scar tissue in the heart," continued Kramp. "In addition, in mid-2009, we plan to begin enrolling patients in a clinical study of Veritas used in complex ventral hernia repairs to provide physicians with additional clinical outcomes data. We are also in the final stages of developing the Flow Coupler, a next-generation version of the Coupler, our primary microsurgical product."
Veritas is a unique remodelable biomaterial. The body's own cells systematically migrate into the matrix and blood vessels form to transform the substrate into the same tissue it is repairing. Primary current Veritas applications are as a staple line buttress in gastric bypass surgery for obesity, the repair of ventral and hiatal hernias, for use in breast reconstruction and several OB/GYN applications.
Mooradian has extensive industry medical product development experience, as well as strong academic credentials, in cardiovascular biology and pathology. Prior to rejoining Synovis, he served as director of the Research and Technology Center within the Cardiac Rhythm Management and Neuromodulation businesses of Boston Scientific Corporation. From 2005 to 2006, he was vice president of research at Queststar Medical, a diagnostic company. Additionally, Mooradian brings 13 years of academic experience at the University of Minnesota Medical School. From 1997 to 2000, he was a founding faculty member and assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and founder and director of the Blood & Biocompatibility Research Laboratory. Previously, he served as the director for industry interactions at the Biomedical Engineering Institute, and held teaching and research positions in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology.
Mooradian received a Ph.D. in experimental pathology from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and his bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Kramp added, "We are very happy to have Dan on board. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Nick Oray for his many years of service at Synovis. Nick was instrumental in developing our Veritas products. We wish him a long and happy retirement."
About Synovis Life Technologies
Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., develops, manufactures and markets medical devices for the surgical treatment of disease. The company's products include implantable biomaterials for soft tissue repair, devices for microsurgery and surgical tools - all designed to reduce risks and facilitate critical surgeries, leading to better patient outcomes and/or lower costs. For additional information on Synovis Life Technologies and its products, visit the company's Web site at [ www.synovislife.com ].
