Background

          Major Accomplishments:

·       Group awarded 90+ grants and contracts from NIH, NSF, NYS, DoD, biotech, pharma, private agencies. Chair, NIH IMST 15 Study Section "Cell and Molecular Biology" 2014 - 2016.  Panel member NIH SBIR study sections - 30 years

·        Developed first commercially successful tissue engineered human epidermis (skin) now sold internationally by MatTek Corp. (Ashland, MA - A BICO Company) and used by many US and international cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies as well as basic research scientists.

·        Originated concept of and co-developed the CytoFluor 2300 fluorescent plate reader while a consultant for Millipore Corporation. First plate reading spectrofluorometer.

·        Co-developed BioLife Solutions Inc’s (BLFS;Nasdaq) HTS-FRS storage solution now in cell therapy clinical trials. These and related solutions are used for the short term and long term storage of cells in a variety of applications.

·       Past Vice President of Research/Business Development, BioLife Solutions, the first incubator biotechnology company on any SUNY campus.

·       Vice President/Director of Research of CPSI Biotech, the second incubator biotechnology company on the SUNY Binghamton campus.

·        Past consultant for a variety of organizations including MatTek Corporation, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Corning Corporation, Millipore Corporation and Cryomedical Sciences Inc.

·        Authored CD-ROM as electronic companion for Cell and Molecular Biology. Author of two problem-solving text books in cell and molecular biology (Scientific American/W.H. Freeman; Cogito).

Major Awards/Honors:

• 2013 - Small Business Administration Tibbetts Award to CPSI Biotech (Van Buskirk, Baust, Snyder) for NIH grantsmanship, economic development and university/community involvement

• 2012 - Elected by BU Student Association to give "Last Lecture" to public audience (4/2012)

• 2006 - Small Business Administration Tibbetts Award to CPSI Biotech (Van Buskirk, Baust) for NIH grantsmanship, economic development and university/community involvement

• 2002 - Chancellor’s and SUNY Research Foundation Entrepreneur Award (excellence in medical research) 

• 1990 - Russell and Burch Award from The Humane Society of the United States for developing the first tissue engineered human skin used worldwide for product safety testing