MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 8, 2015 - Regulatory and Clinical Research Institute, Inc. (RCRI), based in Minneapolis, MN and a leader in medical device strategic consulting, announced today that it has appointed Lisa Olson, MBA as President.  

Olson previously held several leadership positions at WuXi AppTec, most recently as Vice President, Marketing and Technical services, working with the business and technical teams to develop new markets and services in the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries.  She started her career at the University of Minnesota developing monoclonal antibodies and later joined ViroMed Laboratories for the development of new testing services as well as serving as Study Director for all genotoxicology assays. In her tenure with WuXi AppTec, she oversaw facility operation and laboratory workflow, development of new methods and SOPs, test protocols, and staff training. After WuXi Pharmatech’s acquisition of AppTec Laboratory Services, she led efforts to implement biocompatibility-testing programs in China, including the development of testing programs and staff training.

“Lisa will bring considerable business leadership experience from complimentary scientific-service industries,” said Dr. Steve Norsted, RCRI’s CEO.  “She has been working with our client base for years and has directed research adhering to the laboratory requirements of the FDA.  Her leadership of business development activities will be directly applicable to RCRI’s continued growth.”

Olson said, “I am honored and thrilled to take on this leadership role at RCRI, working with an extraordinary team of experts, to partner with medical device innovators to set the standard for supporting companies through all phases of product development.”

Olson received her undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Minnesota and her Masters of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.  She has co-authored numerous ISO Biocompatibility Standards, served as a Co-Chair of the AAMI/ISO Technical Advisory Group on Cytotoxicity, and sits on working groups related to materials safety for the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM).

About Regulatory and Clinical Research Institute, Inc.  RCRI is a strategic business-consulting firm with comprehensive clinical trial services supporting medical product manufacturers.  It specializes in the medical device, in-vitro diagnostic, biologic, and combination product spaces.  RCRI partners through consulting engagements at the senior management level to address the most significant industry challenges in today's global environment.  RCRI provides expert advisors and exact practices in regulatory affairs, quality systems, clinical research, health economics and reimbursement. RCRI is ISO 9001:2008 certified.