Dr. Rudy Rodriguez Inducted into the NAE

By Dr. Framces Ligler

On December 13, Dean Lunn, Dr. Allbritton and Dr. Piedrahita cohosted a reception for Rodolfo (Rudy) Rodriguez to recognize his induction into the National Academy of Engineering. Rudy is cofounder of Advanced Animal Diagnostics and one of the most prolific contributors to animal and human diagnostic instrumentation in the country. Rudy invented the first automated blood-cell separator, the Baxter Fenwal CS3000 Cell Separator, used in more than 500,000,000 platelet transfusions since 1979 and the world’s most successful physician’s office hematology system, the Becton-Dickenson QBC. He adapted QBC technology into the VetAutoread Hematology Analyzer marketed by IDEXX for companion animal use. Rudy created entirely new industry segments with products ranging from the world’s first random access chemistry analyzer (Coulter DACOS) to an instrument that enabled the biotech industry by allowing measurement of minute biochemical changes in-vitro (Aminco-DW2 Dual Wavelength-Split Beam Spectrophotometer) to the first laser nephelometer to measure immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM (Hyland Laser Nephelometer PDQ). At Advanced Animal Diagnostics, he has developed an analyzer for bovine mastitis to be used in the barn to minimize the use of antibiotics. Cosponsors of the reception included the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the UNC-CH/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). Rudy is an affiliate member of CVM and BME.