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The program is named for Wesley “Jack” Howe, former BD president and CEO, who was a mentor to hundreds of BD scientists during his more than 40 years with the company. This year’s winners represent a wide range of scientific disciplines and technological expertise, and include two individuals recognized for their sustained and significant contributions over a career.

“We are proud to institute the Wesley J. Howe Award for Technological Innovation. By recognizing the very finest BD innovators, we are honoring the spirit and drive of all BD technologists,” said Ed Ludwig, BD president and CEO. “BD has a history of innovative excellence and creativity. These awards reflect that tradition, as well as honor Jack Howe, who exemplifies those qualities. They also serve to recognize the major role technology has played in the growth and success of BD.”

Dr. Gerald Edelman, Nobel Laureate and member of the BD Board of Directors has lent his support to the Wesley J. Howe Awards. He remarked: “Major advances in medicine come from different forms of innovative research – basic, applied and developmental. The Howe Awards recognize the remarkable work done by BD associates. The range and ingenuity of their achievements are truly impressive and make a direct contribution to the improvement of human health.”

The inaugural Howe Awards were announced in October, and presented to winners during awards ceremonies attended by BD associates held across the U.S. and in the U.K. The winners were selected by a committee of BD scientists and managers, who reviewed and measured nominations against set criteria, including innovation, contribution to the company and value to humankind. Each winner received a commemorative plaque and a gift.

BD is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a broad range of supplies, devices and systems for use by healthcare professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, BD reported total revenues of $3.6 billion.

The 2000 Winners of the Wesley J. Howe Awards for Technological Innovation

Team Award, Contribution to Product Success, BD Eclipse™ safety needle:
Michael C. Bennett, Donald J. Carano, Alan Clayton, Craig Mandish, James Schneider, Randy Seay, David Todd, Steve White, Thomas W. Winegar and Bob Zurcher – Sumter, SC, Franklin Lakes, NJ and Plymouth, England

The award is for the development of a faster, more efficient manufacturing process for a safety-engineered device, the new BD Vacutainer™ Eclipse™ blood collection needle with a unique, fully integrated shielding device to help protect health care workers from accidental injury.

Team Award, Contribution to Product Success, BD MGIT™ 960, a mycobacterial detection system:
Joseph E. Ahnell, Nicholas Bachur, Jr., P. Shawn Beaty, Brent Byers, Virginia M. Crews, Ed Fronden, Carole Jefferson, Robert Novak and Dan Schwartz – Sparks, MD

The award is for a new industry-standard instrumented system for detection and susceptibility testing of mycobacteria that cause such diseases as tuberculosis. The BD MGIT™ 960 is non-radiometric, non-invasive, fully automated, rapid and accurate, as well as safe and cost-effective. It will replace BD BACTEC™ 460TB, for years the industry’s “gold standard” device in this area.

Team Award, Process Development Excellence, for improved rubber stopper molding:
Bobby Beatson, Kevin Charles and Glenn Posey – Sumter, SC

The award is for a new streamlined method of manufacturing rubber stoppers for blood collection vials. By re-engineering the mold loading process, waste was reduced by 10 to 15%, annualized savings of $1 million were realized and manufacturing capacity was vastly increased.

Individual Award, Intellectual Property Creation, reagent products for immunocytometry:
Kenneth A. Davis, Ph.D. – San Jose, CA

This award recognizes Dr. Davis’ extensive work in diverse areas of significance to the BD reagent business, particularly the development of highly useful inventions that form the foundation for the business. Seven issued patents have been granted to Dr. Davis for these inventions. These contributions have enabled the company to develop and manufacture consistently high quality reagent products that set the standard for the immunocytometry market.

Hall of Fame, Strand Displacement Amplification:
Michael C. Little, Jim Nadeau, James L. Schram and Terry Walker – Sparks, MD and Research Triangle Park, NC

This team has been recognized for its creation of a landmark patent for Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA), a patented and proprietary technology that has set the foundation for the entry of BD into the market of DNA-based clinical diagnostics. SDA allows for specific infectious diseases to be quickly identified with greater sensitivity and specificity and is currently a part of the BD ProbeTec™ ET system, a diagnostic device used for the detection of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Hall of Fame, Clinical Diagnostics:
Klaus W. Berndt, Ph.D. – Sparks, MD