HiberGene Diagnostics, a diagnostics company utilising the latest medical technology to develop, market and manufacture molecular diagnostic tests for human infectious diseases, has announced the appointment of Tony Hill as chief executive officer.
HiberGene is based at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin.
Hill joins HiberGene from Innogenetics, an international diagnostics company, where he was global sales director. Prior to this, Hill was vice-president at OraSure Technologies, and earlier roles included a number of positions at Sigma Aldrich.
Hill has a wealth of experience from more than 20 years in the diagnostic and life science industries. He brings with him expertise in general management and marketing and sales, coupled with a strong track record in growing domestic and international markets.
Brendan Farrell, executive chairman of HiberGene, said: "I am delighted to have secured someone of Tony's calibre to lead HiberGene. He has a great range of experience across diagnostics and life sciences, coupled with a strong track record of success."
Hill added: "This is a very exciting time to be joining HiberGene. The company has developed an excellent test for meningitis using a very innovative platform, which fills a significant unmet clinical need."
HiberGene has developed a molecular diagnostic test for meningococcus and plans also to develop a test for pneumococcal meningitis, the two most common forms of meningitis. Using a novel rapid amplification platform, HiberGene has produced a rapid and highly sensitive diagnostic test which can be used in almost any clinical or laboratory setting.
The company is currently fundraising to progress the tests for meningitis through to commercialisation and to fund further ongoing research and development on a complementary range of human infectious diseases.