North Carolina biotechnology executive to lead Jackson Laboratory communications
| Date: November 6, 2007 |
Bar Harbor, Maine -- Barry Teater of Raleigh, N.C., leader of the team that helped make North Carolina an internationally recognized brand for biotechnology, is coming to The Jackson Laboratory in January as director of the newly created communications office.
In his current role as vice president of corporate communications for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, N.C., Mr. Teater heads the communications program for the world's first government-sponsored biotechnology-development initiative. He joined the non-profit Biotechnology Center 20 years ago as a communications specialist and rose to the top public information job.
The Jackson Laboratory recently reorganized its public outreach functions into a new communications office, consolidating publications, Web communications and media, public and community relations for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
"We want to do a better job of getting our message out to friends and supporters so The Jackson Laboratory is positioned to make even greater contributions to human health in the coming years," said Michael Hyde, the Laboratory's vice president for advancement and external relations. "Barry Teater is just the person to take on this task. His many successes at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center suit him perfectly for sharing our scientific discoveries with the world."
In addition to his work for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Mr. Teater is an award-winning journalist whose freelance feature articles have appeared in The (Atlanta) Journal-Constitution, The (Raleigh, N.C.) News and Observer, BioWorld, Publishers' Auxiliary, Triangle Business Journal and other publications. His book Close to the Heart: A Family's Encounter with Breast Cancer was published in 1997, detailing his sister's ordeal with the disease.
A native of Nicholasville, Ky., Mr. Teater looks forward to the new opportunity at The Jackson Laboratory, and even the new landscape his move to Maine will bring. "The Jackson Laboratory is a highly credible organization doing noble work to improve the human condition, so helping advance the Lab is a compelling job very worthy of my time, energy and passion," Teater said. "The Lab's location on beautiful Mount Desert Island, between the Atlantic Ocean and Acadia National Park, makes the job even more appealing to an outdoorsman like me."
Mr. Teater holds a B.A. in journalism and broadcasting from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., and an M.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His background also includes editorial positions with PR Newswire, The News and Observer, The Chapel Hill Newspaper and The Gold Leaf Farmer.
The Jackson Laboratory (www.jax.org) is one of the world's leading genetics research institutions, with facilities in Bar Harbor, Maine, and West Sacramento, Calif. Its research staff of more than 500 investigates the genetic basis of cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, diabetes and many other human diseases and disorders. The Laboratory is also the world's source for more than 3,300 strains of genetically defined mice, home of the Mouse Genome Database and many other publicly available information resources, and an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training and education.
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Contact(s): Joyce Peterson, joyce.peterson@jax.org
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Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6058 (journalists only)
Main Jackson Laboratory phone: 207-288-6000
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org
