In July 2023, we changed our name from AACC (short for the American Association for Clinical Chemistry) to the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM). The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) and AACC Academy were also both rebranded to the Academy of Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine. The following page was written prior to this rebranding and contains mentions of the association’s old name, the Academy’s old name, NACB, and/or FACB (one of the old designations for members of the Academy).
2010 AACC-NACB Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry in a Selected Area of Research
Robin A. Felder, PhD, FACB,
Dr. Felder is professor of pathology and associate director of clinical chemistry at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He has distinguished himself in two areas of research—automation and hypertension. One of the pioneers of clinical laboratory robotics and automation, he has published more than 150 papers, reviews, and chapters in this area, as well as co-editing three books on medical automation. He served as the founding director of the Medical Automation Research Center from 2002–8. He founded the Association for Laboratory Automation and was founding editor of its journal. His research has resulted in several international awards including the Manitoba Society of Clinical Chemistry Lectureship Award, the young investigator award from the Association for Clinical Biochemists, and the Engelberger Award for Leadership in Robotics. Dr. Felder has also made significant contributions to basic research in the field of hypertension. His group discovered a key genetic pathway responsible for hypertension and salt sensitivity, successfully reproduced it in mice, and developed a novel targeted biotech drug for treating these conditions. In this area, he has published more than 160 papers, chapters, and reviews. In addition to his academic career, Dr. Felder has co-founded nine private ventures spun out from the University of Virginia. One of his inventions, an automated benchtop incubator containing a levitating magnetic field that facilitates three-dimensional culture of cells in a manner similar to the in vivo environment, was a top 10 pick by Scientist magazine in 2009. He has served the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) for over 20 years, including as chair of the Oak Ridge Conference and as a member of the lab automation planning committees for both the annual and European meetings.