Food safety innovator Sample6 today announced the appointment of Jim Godsey as vice president of research and development (R&D). An accomplished R&D executive with a proven track record in the diagnostics industry, Godsey will lead R&D efforts for Sample6, reporting to the CEO. His immediate responsibilities include growing the product development program and team, enhancing product robustness and supply chain, and driving the overall development of the company’s groundbreaking pathogen detection products. 

 “With a relentless passion for novel technology, Jim Godsey has played a critical role in the diagnostics field for more than three decades. His deep background in lean six sigma and proven ability to successfully lead expansive research and development teams will help Sample6 build and develop our high-performing and talented staff,” said Sample6 CEO Tim Curran. “He is a critical addition to the Sample6 executive team and will partner with me to turn our vision into a full suite of high quality commercial products that can meet the rising demand for proactive pathogen detection and remediation.”  

A leader in the diagnostics industry for more than 30 years, Godsey is a highly regarded technology pioneer and a coveted R&D professional.  In fact, he drove the creation and development of the TIGRIS platform, which has become the foundation of the molecular diagnostics industry.  Under his leadership, the two initial assays – Gen-Probe’s TIGRIS Blood Screening portfolio and Gen-Probe’s TIGRIS STD screening assays for chlamydia – were developed and approved. With nearly 1,000 TIGRIS placements generating more than $0.5 M per instrument per year over the past decade, it is one of the most successful molecular instruments to date.

Before joining Sample6, Godsey led technology development, product development and on-market support for Ventana Medical Systems (member of the Roche Group) in his role as senior vice president of technology and product development. Managing a team of more than 450 full-time employees and contractors, he played a pivotal role in the successful development and launch of novel tissue diagnostic products delivering $100Ms in revenue.

Prior to Ventana Medical Systems, Godsey developed market leading cancer diagnostics at QIAGEN, where he held several senior positions including women’s health portfolio team leader and senior vice president of North America R&D. In addition, he was responsible for all R&D for Veridex, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson Company. Godsey has also served as executive vice president of R&D for Gen-Probe Incorporated, president and chief operating officer for ThermoGenesis Corp., as well as senior R&D positions at DADE MicroScan and Analytab Products.

“Sample6 is changing the way companies approach food safety, transforming what was once tedious and ineffective into a rapid, proactive process that secures the global food chain. The combination of game-changing synthetic biology technology, MIT co-founders and instantaneous marketplace differentiation was irresistible,” noted Godsey. “I enjoy the challenge of launching new-to-the-world products and building strong product pipelines and quality supply chains. I am ready to help Sample6 disrupt the food industry and become a global competitor.”

Sample6’s advanced luminescence-cassette technology and analytics platform reduces pathogen testing time to a single shift and simplifies the analysis process – catching potential food safety issues before products leave the plant and enter the food chain.

Godsey earned his Ph.D. in biology (bacterial physiology) from St. John’s University, his M.S. in microbiology (bacterial physiology) from the University of Missouri, and his B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University.

For more information, please visit www.sample6.com.