ATCC Scientist Receives Highest Honor from the Society of In Vitro Biology

ATCC, a global leader in biological materials management and standards, is pleased to announce that Dr. Yvonne Reid, ATCC senior scientist, received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) in recognition of her trailblazing work in Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA profiling for human cell line identification.

This award is the highest honor given by the Society, and is presented annually to a scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of in vitro biology and/or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology.

“Dr. Reid has been invaluable in the development of our STR profiling capabilities,” said Dr. Raymond H. Cypess, ATCC Chairman and CEO. “These profiles help ensure the quality and integrity of human cell lines. The evolution of Dr. Reid’s work has led to a consensus standard to provide the research community with a globally-accepted methodology for assessing the identity of human cell lines. We congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition by SIVB.”

Dr. Reid has more than 30 years of experience in cell biology, immunology, and molecular biology. Much of her work has centered around developing and standardizing methods for inter- and intra-species identification to include DNA profiling, and to propagate, cryopreserve, and track validated batches of thousands of animal cell lines and strains. These validated protocols have been adopted by cell banks around the world, making a significant impact on preclinical research.

“Dr. Reid is a recognized leading expert in cell culture and longtime champion of cell line authentication,” said Dr. Maryellen de Mars, senior director for ATCC’s Standards Resource Center. “She’s been instrumental in adapting modern genetic technologies to verify cell identity and to promote reproducibility in science. Her work has led to the implementation of routine screening of all human cell lines by STR analysis.”

Dr. Reid earned her Ph.D. in Zoology from Howard University. She has received numerous awards throughout her career and has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications. She has also served on more than a dozen scientific committees.

ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning nearly a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world’s largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced, model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, and a research and technology center of excellence in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Contact: Kim Testa, senior director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, ATCC, [email protected]