dougliuBioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a regional private-public partnership focusing on commercializing market-relevant biohealth innovations and increasing access to early-stage funding in Central Maryland, announced today the appointment of Douglas Liu, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Qiagen, to its Board of Directors.

“Doug is an outstanding addition to our board,” said Scott Carmer, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations at MedImmune. “His in-depth experience in strategic planning, operations and R&D in immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, and other healthcare market sectors will prove invaluable as BHI drives biohealth commercialization opportunities in Central Maryland.”

Mr. Liu currently serves as Senior Vice President of Global Operations for Qiagen, a German-based diagnostics company with a campus in Germantown, Maryland. He joined the company in 2005 after working at Bayer Healthcare as Head of Operations for Nucleic Acid Diagnostics in the U.S., and in Strategic Planning and Consulting at Bayer AG, Leverkusen. Mr. Liu has an M.B.A. from Boston University and a science degree from the University of Illinois. He also lived and worked in Germany for five years. Since returning to the U.S. in 2007, Mr. Liu has served on several local boards including the Governor’s International Advisory Council & the board of MdBio/Tech Council of Maryland.

“I am honored to be part of an organization that has brought together key players in science, entrepreneurship and capital to change the dialogue about what we can be as a region,” said Mr. Liu. “BHI’s mission fits well with Qiagen’s goal of advancing human health globally while contributing to the local economy and community.”

Chairman Carmer expressed his appreciation for BHI’s departing board member Dennis Fallen, who was with Rockville-based Fisher Biosciences and has accepted a position outside of the region. “Dennis served BHI well both as a work group member to help establish the organization and later as a board member,” said Mr. Carmer. “We wish him the best in his new venture.”