Consultants

Dr. Mike Pikal
pikal@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Dr. Pikal is currently professor and the Pfizer Distinguished Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of CT. Prior to 1996, he was a Senior Research Scientist with the Lilly Research Laboratories and an adjunct professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of MI and the University of MN. He received his PhD from Iowa State University in stability of amorphous materials, characterization of solids by calorimetry and the science and technology of freeze drying, with a focus on optimization of formulation and process for labile proteins. Dr. Pikal is a member of the ACS, AAPS and the PDA. He received the AAPS Research Achievement Award in Pharmaceutical Technologies in 2001 and the Criofarma award in Freeze-Drying in 2006. He is co-author of the Smart Freeze-Dryer patent. 

 

Since its inception in 1992, the company has grown to provide a wide variety of services in diverse applications, drawing on a breadth of experience, depth of science, and extensive expertise.  The mandates for the organization are to provide a source of services, from early development through Phase II clinical trial materials, assisting in bringing a new product to the health care industry.  Technical support and services also provide facilitation for commercial manufacturing operations through consulting and training. The practical application of experience is coupled with interests in applied research and advancing the technology.  This combination of research and commercial enterprise offers the industry a unique source of comprehensive expertise that spans bringing a new product to market to increasing the productivity of existing operations. 

David "Ted" Sutherland gained his freeze drying experience as Vice President of Engineering of the Virtis Company, Gardiner, New York. In the course of his more than thirty years with the company, he guided the design of both their research and industrial freeze dryers. He specified their operational requirements, designed to meet the requirements and participated in the marketing and selling of the freeze dryers. Traveling worldwide he also saw to their installation and trouble shooting. He is responsible for numerous innovations and holds a number of patents assigned to the Virtis Company. Prior to joining the Virtis Company he worked for the Advanced Products Division of the Worthington Corporation designing air liquefaction turbo expanders. Mr. Sutherland is now active as a consultant in the freeze drying equipment field, as well as in the low temperature refrigeration field.  Mr. Sutherland earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering from New York University, a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, as well as a Masters degree in Business Administration from Marist College. At Columbia he majored in thermodynamics and compressible fluid flow, with vapor cycle refrigeration and cryogenics as areas of special interest.