We’ve got spring feVRE!
A Note from the President
Spring has finally sprung in Michigan and things are looking especially sunny here at TransPharm. We celebrated our best first quarter in history, and the first intern of our summer internship program is finishing up validation of an A. baumanii pulmonary infection model. Lunches are spent at the picnic table on our patio, and everyone is enjoying a newly constructed trail which weaves through the woods to a pond on the property.
Warmer weather isn’t the only change we’ve noticed. Today’s economy relies on technology more than ever before, and a growing number of customers want to interact with businesses in a way that is most convenient for them. For this reason, our team has decided to pursue a different marketing strategy than in years past. In lieu of attending the American Society for Microbiology conference in June, we will be using our resources to expand our digital presence. Keep your eyes open for original media content highlighting our niche services, and be sure follow us on Facebook for the latest and greatest.
Daniel Ross
President & CEO
The trail on our property leads through the woods to a pond nestled among the willow trees.
Wild geraniums (above) and lily of the valley grow along the trail.
In the Lab
Many bacteria live in our gut and on our skin, usually without causing problems. However, serious infections can occur when these bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, or VRE, are one such threat. Although healthy people are unlikely to become infected with VRE, those who are hospitalized or have weakened immune systems are especially at risk.
TransPharm has a well-established murine model of VRE colonization in the gastrointestinal tract, one of the most common sites for infection. Antibiotic pre-treatment provides consistent results, with fecal shedding peaking on Days 3-5 and observed through Day 15. Our screening studies are flexible enough to accommodate studies with prophylactic and/or daily dosing. We also have personnel and areas of our facility dedicated specifically to VRE work. Contact us today for a quote!
Santiago R. Lopez, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Marci Peek promoted to Senior Protocol Specialist
We are excited to announce that Marci Peek has been promoted to Senior Protocol Specialist. Marci came to TransPharm in 2010 after 11 years as a study coordinator at the Pfizer Phase I Unit. Her expertise in study scheduling and protocol editing keeps our work running smoothly, and her positive attitude puts a smile on everyone’s face. Marci is an invaluable member of our team and we are proud to have her as an employee and coworker. Please join us in congratulating Marci on her new position.
TransPharm Team Building
Our staff works together to solve problems here at TransPharm, but it turns out we are just as great of a team outside the lab! In March, we used our detective skills to investigate a crime scene at Epiq Escapes. By finding clues and solving puzzles, we broke out of the locked room in near record time. In April, TransPharm became Jackson Certified! Jackson Certified is a community trivia program which challenges businesses and organizations to learn more about Jackson County with the ultimate goal of enhancing community pride. The competition was fierce, but Team “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” held true to their name and came out on top.
We managed to escape the CSI room in near record time.
The winning team celebrated their victory in Jackson Certified swag.