miDIAGNOSTICS Names Dr. Hilja Ibert as CEO

miDIAGNOSTICS, a global developer of integrated diagnostic solutions for the point-of-need, announces the appointment of Dr. Hilja Ibert as CEO. Dr. Ibert brings decades of expertise in managing medical diagnostics companies to this potentially groundbreaking venture that combines the expertise of two world leading institutions: imec and Johns Hopkins University.
 
miDIAGNOSTICS aims to develop diagnostic tests integrated in silicon chips. With a small volume of blood, this will allow point-of-need on-chip detection of cells, proteins, nucleic acids, and/or small molecules. Within minutes, the data resulting from these complex tests will be sent to e.g. smartphones or other mobile devices where they will be processed and displayed. This will bring complex diagnostic tests to the local point of need at an affordable cost, with a high level of comfort and confidence for both patients and caregivers.
 
Dr. Ibert joined miDIAGNOSTICS as CEO in February 2016. With the support of research partners imec and Johns Hopkins University, her team will develop the first miDIAGNOSTICS product portfolio, bring in interested global commercial partners and develop a market strategy. Before joining miDIAGNOSTICS, Dr. Ibert was VP and GM of Hologic Diagnostics Solutions International, a global player in the field of breast health, surgical and clinical diagnostics. Previously, she held various positions at Becton Dickinson and bioMerieux.
 
“The expertise that is available in miDIAGNOSTICS is truly unique” says Dr. Ibert. “Imec’s and Johns Hopkins’ teams have been pioneers in bringing biological tests to chips in a silicon technology that can be produced in high volumes.”
 
 
“It is our expectation that the tools developed by miDIAGNOSTICS could lead to a positive disruption in global diagnostics,” Dr. Bob Bollinger, co-founder and professor of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University, added. “They have the potential to bring affordable clinical diagnostics to people and places where no such tests were available. And with medicine evolving towards personalized treatments, they could enable appropriate testing without burdening healthcare budgets.”
 
“From our longstanding expertise with silicon nanoelectronics, we know that this technology offers enormous opportunities in terms of boosting medical diagnostics,” said Luc Van den hove, CEO of imec and chairman of the board of directors of miDIAGNOSTICS. “miDIAGNOSTICS is the ideal vehicle to develop high-quality products and bring them to patients. Dr. Ibert will be instrumental in making this happen.”