People are our Chemistry

At Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing, we believe that our people provide our strength.Their dedication to quality, professional competence and hard work are the key elements in the company’s success. In this regular feature, we introduce you to some of the people who have helped make Eurofins an industry leader.

Bringing more than 20 years of biosafety industry, testing, and R&D experience to her role at Eurofins Lancaster Labs, Dr. Marian McKee, espouses an appreciation for the significance of the work clients do for patients in need and the value Eurofins’ testing support delivers. “Biosafety is such a critical step in drug development that our clients must complete to  ensure therapies are safe for patients,” says Marian, Vice President, BioSafety (Viral  Clearance, Viral Safety, Cell Banking). “It’s gratifying that my team and our broad array of testing services help perpetuate the pipeline and have such a vital role in getting medicines  to patients.”

Relatively new to Eurofins, joining in 2019, Marian brings both a fresh and sage perspective to the leadership team, noting the importance of the Lab’s diverse staff with many long- term employees peppered throughout with new staff to meet growing needs. “Having spent a decade at a competitor lab, I was fully cognizant of Lancaster’s stellar reputation and  strong client loyalty,” says Marian. “So when I was recruited to interview, my curiosity  peaked. Upon arrival I was pleased to find a beautiful state-of-the-art campus, conscientious corporate culture, talented employees, and a growing business with room for personal career growth.”

Marian earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology at Uniformed Service University of the  Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD, and completed her post-doctoral work at the National Cancer Institute at NIH.

What does your current job entail?

As Vice President of Biosafety, I provide guidance and the long range planning for Viral Clearance, Cell Banking, and Viral Safety testing groups, including development and strategic insight into the company’s biosafety offering including our gene and cell therapy or ATMP testing offering.

What is the scope of your group?

Members of my team provide the scientific and technical expertise to insure that our client’s biopharmaceutical products are free of viral contaminants. They include the Viral Clearance team who perform studies to demonstrate that our clients’ purification processes are effective at removing viruses during the purification process, and the viral safety testing team who test biologics, including ATMPs to assure that these products are free of viral contaminants.

We also provide cell banking services which insures that one of the most critical raw materials for biologics is secure and well characterized. Members of the Cell Banking department provide mammalian and insect cell banking services to GMP standards for production, R&D, and bioassay banks. The department also provides cell expansion services in support of cell line characterization testing.

What kind of volunteer activities have you been involved with?

I really enjoy bringing science and STEM education to others and have been doing so since my post doc days at NCI where I was on the NIH Speakers Bureau. I have found a number of ways to do this over the years through corporate outreach programs and through   serving on the board for two nonprofit foundations, STEM for Her and STEMs Grow. With STEM for Her, I was able to share my experiences as a woman in science and mentor young women in high school who are interested in STEM careers. I look forward to continuing to share my passion for science here as well.

And when you’re not working?

When I am not working, you’ll find trying a new recipe for dinner or cocktails, spending time with my family, at a Washington Nationals baseball game, or exploring the local area. I love  to travel and explore new places. With my three children all living in different places (Chicago, Charleston, SC, and Blacksburg, VA), my husband, Charles and I get the chance to spend time with them and explore at the same time.