BioUtah Announces New Leadership and Board Appointments to Strengthen Utah's Life Sciences Industry

BioUtah, Utah's trade association serving the state's life sciences community, has announced significant leadership changes with Erin Barry assuming the role of board chair and Andrew Hemmert, PhD, becoming vice chair, both effective January 1, 2026. Barry, currently serving as vice president of government affairs for Merit Medical Systems based in South Jordan, Utah, will succeed Mark Paul, executive director of the Center for Medical Innovation at the University of Utah. Paul will remain on the board as immediate past chair and continue serving on the executive committee.

At Merit Medical Systems, Barry oversees all local, state, and federal government relations in jurisdictions where the company maintains manufacturing facilities or sales offices. Her responsibilities include directing state and federal lobbying efforts on critical issues such as taxation, international trade and tariffs, FDA regulation, and economic incentives. Prior to joining Merit in 2015, Barry served as deputy director of government affairs for the National Air Traffic Controllers and previously as vice president of government affairs for technology startup Unspam.

Dr. Hemmert, senior vice president of molecular research and development for bioMérieux based in Salt Lake City, leads global teams focused on developing easy-to-use, rapid, and comprehensive molecular diagnostics. His work includes innovations in infectious disease diagnostics covering respiratory, blood stream, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and skeletal infections, as well as the bioMérieux SpotFire system for point-of-care settings. Hemmert is an active contributor to the scientific community through multiple publications, grants, and patents.

Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah, expressed gratitude for Paul's leadership, stating his strategic guidance has strengthened the organization and advanced Utah's life sciences community. The board anticipates Barry will help further BioUtah's mission and enhance the state's innovation ecosystem. In addition to these leadership appointments, three new members have joined the board immediately: Jim Fitzgerald, CEO of ATL Technology; Tracy George, MD, chief scientific officer and president of the Innovation Business Unit at ARUP Laboratories; and Chris Lowe, CEO of Nusano.

Fitzgerald brings over 15 years of executive leadership experience in medical device and packaging companies, while Dr. George contributes extensive experience in laboratory diagnostics and clinical trials as a professor of pathology at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Lowe offers more than 30 years of business experience, including 20 years in C-suite roles in healthcare and finance. The board also acknowledges the completion of service by Jay Muse and Michael Olson after eight years, while Myles Greenberg, MD, concludes his executive committee service but remains a board member. BioUtah's governance structure now comprises 16 directors representing Utah's diverse life sciences industry. For additional information about the organization's governance structure, visit https://BioUtah.org.