Joseph A. Buettner, MS.
Senior Scientist
Mr. Buettner has over 22 years experience in all aspects of drug development including small molecule, peptide (mimetic) synthesis, protein structure analysis, in vitro biochemistry assays, animal studies, and formal project development and management. Mr. Buettner came to CBI from the Bayer Corporation, Biological Products Division, in North Carolina where he held positions in discovery research, assay development and Project Management. Chief among his talents is analytical chemistry, including expertise in mass spec analysis and in particular in ES/MS and associated methods as performed on a Q TOF instrument. Mr. Buettner interacts with clients and is responsible for sample analysis within the bioorganic laboratory, including analysis of select agent toxins. He received his MS degree in Microbiology from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, and is the recipient of academic and industry awards. He is co-author of 8 issued patents and 19 refereed journal references.
Karen Carter, Ph.D
Senior Scientist, Bioorganic Chemistry
Dr. Carter came to CBI in 2008 to head up CBI's organic chemistry efforts. Carter leads many of CBI's bio-defense related programs. She has extensive experience in the design, synthesis and characterization of small molecules with defined pharmacological and physiological properties. Dr. Carter is considered expert in methods development and in the application of NMR, FTIR, GC/MS RP HPLC and mass spectrometry to modern synthesis approaches. She received the Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Virginia, and is the author of numerous peer reviewed papers on synthesis and use of receptor agonists.
Tammie Crabtree
Senior Laboratory Manager
At CBI, Ms. Crabtree is the first point of contact for most of our customers. In her capacity as Lab Manager, Tammie prepares quotations, answers customer queries, accepts incoming orders, distributes samples for analysis and does sample follow-up. She is responsible for operational up-keep of lab equipment, management of client records and CBI's peptide and chemical inventory databases. She is considered expert in most areas of automated peptide synthesis and directs CBI's preparative HPLC lab used for peptide and protein purification. Tammie has been instrumental in helping to establish CBI's unique extraction protocol of toxins from environmental samples. Formerly with Environment 1, Inc. in Greenville, NC, Tammie came to CBI in 1998. She received the BS degree in Biology from East Carolina University and is the recipient of several academic awards.
Judy Ellett, MT(ASCP)
QA/QC Manager
Ms. Ellett is the Manager of CBI's Quality Assurance Unit. Ellett deals directly with CBI clients who require QA oversight and whose projects must meet GLP reporting requirements. Ellett wrote the Laboratory Quality Assurance Manual for CBI and is involved in maintaining cGLP compliance for the company. Ms. Ellett has 25 years experience in the clinical laboratory and has a bachelor's degree with certification in medical technology.
Doug Horejsh, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Dr. Horejsh earned his Ph.D from the competitive CMB program at the University of Wisconsin where he was trained in retrovirology. He continued his postdoctoral studies at the Institute of Human Virology in Baltimore, MD. He was recruited to CBI in May, 2006, from the Italian National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy were he was a Scientist and Consultant working with SARS, orthopoxviruses, flaviviruses, and avian influenza. Dr. Horejsh was nominated for a "Lazio Innovation Award" for developing a bead-based DNA detection method. He led efforts to modify existing technologies for rapid differential diagnosis of viral infection, resulting in two patents. Dr. Horejsh has published 17 articles in international journals and was an invited speaker at the US-Italy bilateral meeting on emerging and bio-threat pathogens. At CBI, Dr. Horejsh is involved in all aspects of pathogen growth, isolation, testing, and analysis.
Russell L. Gross III
Manager, DNA Reference Lab
Russ Gross had been with Fairfax Identity Labs since 1995 when he came to CBI in 2004 as part of CBI's acquisition of FIL. In his role as Lab Manager of the DNA Reference Lab, Gross is responsible for case oversight and for coordination of all private, immigration, and state contract genetic identity work. Gross interacts with clients and customers on a daily basis. He was awarded the BS degree in Biology in 1993 from Salisbury State University, Salisbury, MD.
Sarah Helber, Ph.D.
Group Leader, Clinical Lab and Related Studies
Dr. Helber brings 17 years of combined biotechnology and academic experience to CBI. Prior to CBI, Dr. Helber was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she supervised the research of technicians, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in numerous projects in the areas of molecular and cell biology and immunology. At CBI, Dr. Helber oversees the support work of a wide variety of clinical trials, including vaccine development and the molecular diagnostics of cancer. Dr. Helber received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA in 1986. She received her PhD in Microbiology/Immunology from the Medical College of Virginia campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in 1993. Dr, Helber is author on numerous peer-reviewed publications in the area of molecular biology of erythropoeisis.
Charles M. Kelly, Ph.D.
Director of Fairfax Identity Laboratories
Dr. Kelly joined Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. in December 2004 with the acquisition by CBI of Fairfax Identity Laboratories (FIL), where he is the Director of the DNA Reference Laboratory. Dr. Kelly joined FIL in 1996 where he has been both head of the Paternity lab and the CODIS lab, with the exception of a one-year leave to participate in the identification of remains of the victims of the World Trade Center attack. Prior to joining FIL Dr. Kelly was a member of the faculty of the Biology Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for seven years and Director of Parentage Analysis at Genetic Design, Inc., the largest paternity testing company at the time. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and his Ph.D. from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. His postdoctoral research and teaching experience included time at the Anatomy Department of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology at the Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Kelly is a member of numerous professional societies and has both published in books and peer reviewed journals as well as given numerous presentations before both scientific and civic groups.
Julie R. Secor McVoy, M.S.
Senior Scientist
Ms. McVoy joined the Company in April, 1994 and has since been promoted to Senior Scientist. Ms. McVoy is considered an expert in all aspects of immunochemistry and immunoassay and has taken charge of the Company's efforts in assay development. Ms. McVoy received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the College of William and Mary, and her Master of Science degree in Human Genetics from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Medical College of Virginia. Ms. McVoy is the recipient of many awards for scientific excellence and helped develop assay methods for biotinidase deficiency, including an assay that is currently used in neonatal screening programs throughout the world. Ms. McVoy is the co-author of numerous peer reviewed journal articles in the general areas of her research expertise, human biochemical genetics.
Gregory A. Meyers, MS.
Senior Scientist
Mr. Meyers supervises CBI's high throughput DNA Services Lab. Mr. Meyers has been with CBI almost from its inception where he was a pivotal player in the initiation of many of the DNA services offered at CBI. He is considered expert in all aspects of DNA structure determination, and helped pioneer new processes of high throughput DNA sequence analysis and detection. Meyers is the co-inventor of AccuTrac , a reagent formulated at CBI to facilitate lane tracking on automated DNA sequence gels. Meyers has extensive experience in DNA sequence analysis, genotyping, and SNP detection. After five years at CBI he moved to North Carolina where he worked as both a Group Leader for genotyping and Project Manager at Icoria, Inc. (formerly Paradigm Genetics, Inc.), Research Triangle Park, NC, and a Product Manager for SNP analysis and genomic instruments, at MWG Biotech, Inc, High Point, NC. Mr. Meyers rejoined CBI in 2004. Meyers obtained his B.S. degree from Virginia Tech in Microbiology and his M.S. Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, in Molecular Biology and Genetics. In addition to his patents, Meyers is a co-author on numerous peer reviewed research papers and is the recipient of academic and industry awards and honors.
Amanda Miller, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Dr. Miller is part of the Biological Chemistries group at CBI and is considered expert in all aspects of protein purification and characterization, including all methods of chromatography and biophysical analyses. Dr. Miller has been instrumental in establishing CBI's proteomics program in 2D PAGE analyses. Dr. Miller received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Medical College of Georgia and is the author of peer reviewed research papers. Dr. Miller is also the recipient of several awards, including a prestigious Sigma Xi award for academic excellence.
Rick A. Teller
IT Manager
Teller is considered expert in virtually all aspects of IT and holds professional certifications attesting to his expertise in Mac, Apple, Linux, CompTia, and MCP. While employed at the University of Richmond computing center, Teller became versed in different operating systems, including Mac OS Classic-Mac OS X, Linux, RedHat, Solaris 2.6-8, Windows (including all server systems, DOS, and IBM OS2. At CBI, Teller is responsible for all aspects of computer maintenance and troubleshooting, with special emphasis on CBI’s server, telecommunications, and security networks. Teller provides all end-user support, education, and guidance on computer systems and integration with laboratory instrumentation.
Russell L. Wolz, Ph.D.
Director, Biological Chemistries
Dr. Wolz joined the Company in August, 1996, as Senior Research Scientist and has been promoted to Group Leader. Wolz heads the Company's biochemistry research services. Until 1996, Wolz was Assistant Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and was previously an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. Dr. Wolz received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Colorado State University, and the Doctoral degree from Northwestern University, in Biochemistry. Wolz is the co-author of more than 15 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters in the general areas of his research expertise, protein structure and function. Wolz is credited with co-discovery of the zinc binding motif common to all zinc-metallo proteinases. Wolz is the Principal Investigator on Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovative Research Awards issued to the Company from the NIH and USDA, respectively.