EPEMED appoints executive director

European personalised medicine association, EPEMED, has announced Dr Anne Bruinvels as its new executive director. She is an entrepreneur in personalised healthcare and will be responsible for growing the start-up organisation and building its strategic framework.

The not-for-profit group was established in late 2009 to bring together global forces in personalised medicine. Dr Bruinvels will work with the board to create guidance for all those involved in progressing personalised medicine and European market challenges in particular.

"I'm very pleased with the appointment of Dr Anne Bruinvels as executive director and board member of EPEMED," said Dr Alain Huriez, founder and president of EPEMED.

"Her proven leadership and communication skills in the personalised medicine field will benefit the association greatly and I look forward to working with her to bring harmonisation and education to the personalised medicine field in Europe."

Dr Bruinvels has worked in this arena for over 10 years. She founded personalised healthcare advisory firm, Elixior, and prior to that Curidium, a personalised medicine company identifying companion diagnostics and therapeutics to treat patients with central nervous system disorders. She has also been a researcher for SmithKline Beecham, Wyeth and Sandoz.

She obtained her PhD (neuroscience) from Utrecht University (the Netherlands) and her MSc (pharmacy) from Groningen University (the Netherlands).