A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

As part of a succession plan, Bill Radvak, president/CEO of Response Biomedical (Vancouver, British Columbia), said he will step down from those positions following conclusion of an executive search for a replacement, now underway. Radvak will stay through the appointment as well as a transition period to ensure orderly progression.

Duane Morris has been named COO of Response, replacing Brian Richards, a co-founder of Response. Richards will remain a member of the company’s board.

Radvak said, “As co-founders of Response Biomedical, Brian Richards and I have both decided that this is an excellent time to transition out and hand Response over to a new management team. The foundation has been set and the company is ready to move to a new level. Brian’s contribution to the development of this company is immeasurable, and I’d like to pay tribute to his hard work and dedication over many years.”

Morris joins Response from GlaxoSmithKline, where he was VP and general manager of GSK’s biodefense facility in Bothell, Washington. As part of Morris’ compensation package, he has been granted options to acquire 1,000,000 common shares of the company, subject to vesting requirements.

Response makes rapid on-site diagnostic tests for use with its portable RAMP Platform for clinical and environmental applications. The RAMP system consists of a portable fluorescent reader and single-use, disposable test cartridges, and has the potential to be adapted to more than 250 medical and non-medical tests currently performed in laboratories.