Quadrant industry speaker series

The future of diagnostics—detecting, preventing, and predicting disease

Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Room N114, Genentech Hall
Eric Whitters, Novartis Diagnostics
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Diagnostics inform decision making across the entire healthcare spectrum. Yet although they may influence as much as 60-70 percent of health care decision-making, they comprise less than 5 percent of total hospital and Medicare costs. Eric Whitters, VP of Global R&D at Novartis Diagnostics, based in Emeryville, will discuss where diagnostics are heading, and how tools that detect, prevent, and predict disease impact clinical decision-making. Some of the areas where Eric will focus include:

• Major forces contributing to advancement of diagnostics such as access to genomic information, understanding of biological pathways, demand for rational data, and need for cost-effective treatments.
• Evolution of diagnostics in the areas of immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, and cell biology.
• Role of emerging technologies in reshaping the medical field including allergy diagnostics, serology testing, and electronic biosensors for near-patient testing for blood screening and vaccines.

Eric Whitters serves as the global head of research and development at Novartis Diagnostics. He leads a dynamic research team responsible for current investigations in neurodegenerative diseases, infectious disease immunochemistry and vaccine development. His current focus is the identification of emerging technologies and unique biomarkers that will foster the growth of Novartis Diagnostics. Eric also oversees the development of new diagnostic tests in the areas of infectious disease, prenatal health, and transfusion medicine that build on Novartis Diagnostics’ expertise in blood screening.

Eric joined Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics after 13 years within the diagnostics industry where he held increasing roles in research & development for Diagnostic Product Corporation and later the Siemens Healthcare business. During this time, Eric led a multifaceted team responsible for the launch of over 100 new diagnostic products on the IMMULITE platform into the clinical world.

After a successful R&D career, Eric explored additional opportunities in the Siemens Healthcare world, serving in the management of Clinical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs and Technical Operations. During this time he led a team that successfully validated, submitted and registered several PMA assays in the United States as well as multiple 510(k) assays.

Eric received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Illinois at Champaign.