June 2010

Dear subscriber:

Springborn has recently been very active in the North American and European tradeshow circuit, exhibiting at the CropLife America Spring Conference in April, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) meeting in Chicago, and the SETAC Europe 20th Annual Meeting, and European Crop Protection Association Regulatory Conference, (both in Seville, Spain) in May. Look for us next at the American Chemical Society meeting in Boston, MA in August, and at the Informa Chemical Industries Regulation conference in September.

Springborn is continually exploring new opportunities for growth and expansion to better serve the needs of our clients. Our continued growth in staffing and our added equipment is helping us meet your capacity needs and regulatory requirements. As always, we welcome your questions and feedback to improve our efforts to help you meet your organization's objectives and targets.

New Method for Aquatic Macrophyte Ecotoxicology - Single Species Test

Springborn has developed the capability to perform aquatic macrophyte tests in the lab based on the European Myriophyllum test design and participated in the Ring Test validation study.  This new method satisfies interim requirements for the European regulatory authorities.  In addition to the validation tests, Springborn has developed methods to test five additional species (Vallisneria, Ceratophyllum, Potamogeton, Cabomba and Elodea) in this single species format.   Additionally,   Springborn has the capacity to conduct seasonal studies outdoors, with 70 ponds using up to 10 macrophyte species, as well as indoors, using single-species test, year-round. For more information about our aquatic ecotoxicology studies, visit our web site or contact us.

New hires in Horn bring significant experience in the CRO industry

Springborn is pleased to announce two new appointments at Springborn's testing laboratory in Horn, Switzerland. We welcome Dr. Björn Brumhard, Technical Director of Environmental Fate and Metabolism, and Ms. Stefanie Schick, Business Development Director, Europe. Dr. Brumhard brings over 18 years of industry experience, and has served as a group leader in environmental fate and metabolism, residue chemistry, and analytical support at Bayer CropScience AG during the past 12 years. Dr. Brumhard holds a Ph.D. in Pesticide Chemistry/Radioagronomy and has published numerous studies in biodegradation and pesticide fate. Stefanie brings nearly 25 years experience in the life science industry, with 15 years direct experience working in Contract Research Organizations. Having worked for many years in global regulatory affairs for clients in North America, Europe and Asia, Stefanie knows how to communicate in different cultures. She understands the procedures for working with agencies worldwide, as well as the importance of strong communication and project management.

Fate and Metabolism Staff Addition

The Springborn staff is continuing to grow globally, with the addition of Simon (Seunghun) Kang, Ph. D. Sr. Research Scientist, in our Fate and Metabolism department. Dr. Kang joins us with over 17 years experience in environmental science, and over 10 years direct Contract Research experience. He holds his Ph.D. in Environmental Soil Chemistry from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and holds his BS and MS in Agrochemistry from Seoul National University, Korea. A member of both the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Soil Science Society of America, Dr. Kang has written numerous publications, has delivered a variety of scientific presentations, and holds several patents. His responsibilities at Springborn include method development and project management for Fate and Metabolism. With his significant experience in the AgChem industry, Dr. Kang adds depth and expertise to our team, especially for our plant metabolism studies.

Analytical Chemisty

Springborn will exhibit at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2010 National Meeting & Exposition, August 22-26, 2010, Boston, MA in booth # 233. Meet members of our Fate and Metabolism staff, as well as our analytical research chemists. To arrange an appointment with a staff member, contact Arthur Putt, Senior Technical Consultant, Business Development, at aputt@smithersmail.com.

Carolina Research Center Sustainability Initiatives

Springborn's Carolina Research Center (CRC) started 2010 off with significant changes to facilities and operations in the interest of “Going Green”. The first green initiative was in facility improvement, installing an energy-sipping tankless water heater in a newly renovated study building. The second initiative was directed at processing biowaste. Instead of contracting a biowaste company that uses energy-guzzling machines to incinerate the material, CRC installed a composting system. The composter has nearly eliminated CRC's biowaste removal necessities, and it processes the waste in a way that destroys the waste material without generating more pollutants. The third initiative involves data collection and record keeping. CRC has implemented the data management tool eStudy™ designed by iAdvantage Software, Inc. All standard guideline studies conducted at CRC are done using eStudy™, eliminating the need for paper forms, printed reports, and printed archive storage. The entire staff recognizes the big conservation step this makes towards saving trees. These projects are just a few of what we intend to be a long list of green initiatives implemented at CRC and throughout the Springborn organization. To read more about these projects, visit the sustainability page on our web site.

Smithers Viscient Endocrine Program

In a new white paper from Smithers Viscient, titled “The Transparency Paradigm: How to select the right CRO for your Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program needs”, Ronald C. Biever, Chief Scientific Officer, offers practical advice that can help to increase the likelihood of successfully completing EDSP testing for your organization. The paper examines the ‘Transparency Paradigm’, a systematic and logical way to identify the right CRO for your organization's EDSP testing needs. Developing your own Transparency Paradigm will remove barriers and ensure that your selected CRO and program execution will meet your organization's specific requirements for this complex program. The criteria described in the Transparency Paradigm can assist in prioritizing your specific needs, clearly communicating your expectations, and complementing your constraints with a CRO's strengths. Download the white paper here.

New Vice President of Operations in North America

Prasad Raje, Ph.D., joins Springborn as the Vice President of Operations. Dr. Raje joins Springborn with a long and distinguished career in the CRO industry. Most recently, he was the President & Managing Director in India for Albany Molecular Research, Inc (AMRI). In addition to his roles of increasing responsibility at AMRI, his background includes starting his own chemical and precious metal refining company at the age of 17, and 5 years working as a Senior Scientist at Abbott Laboratories, IL. Dr. Raje holds a BS in Chemistry and an MS in Industrial Chemistry, both from Gujarat University. He has a Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry from Auburn University, and he conducted postdoctoral research at Auburn University, as well as the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina. His responsibilities at Springborn include overseeing the operations of our Ecotox, Avian, Fate and Metabolism, and Chemistry departments, as well as HR, Facilities, Finance, QA/QC Reporting and IT.