INDIANAPOLIS, IN — [11/17/25] — Aria Diagnostics, a high-complexity clinical reference and contract research laboratory, today announced the appointment of Ted Schutzbank, Ph.D., as Laboratory Director. Dr. Schutzbank will oversee the laboratory’s core clinical operations, new assay development, and FDA/GLP compliance strategies, with a specific focus on expanding Aria’s capabilities in operational excellence and complex diagnostic testing innovation.
Dr. Schutzbank brings over 30 years of experience in laboratory medicine, with a career spanning leadership roles at Children’s National Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital, and Covance Central Laboratory Services. His background combines high-quality clinical operational management, testing innovation, and rigorous regulatory oversight, operating in academic, government, and commercial settings.
“Dr. Schutzbank’s dual background in advanced assay validation and regulatory compliance aligns tightly with Aria’s strategic vision,” said Vipin Adhlakha, President of Aria Diagnostics. “His experience validating detection methods for complex environmental matrices and immunocompromised patient populations will be foundational as we expand our technical capabilities and adapt to the changing regulatory landscape.”
Drawing on Dr. Schutzbank’s work in molecular epidemiology and his role on the CLSI Document Development Committee, Dr. Schutzbank will guide the validation of Aria’s wastewater surveillance protocols for the Department of Defense (DoD). His expertise in stabilizing nucleic acids in diverse matrices ensures the robust data required for population-level monitoring.
In his new role, Dr. Schutzbank will also direct technical operations for Aria’s toxicology and inherited disease panels and lead the organization’s clinical operations consulting division.
“Aria operates at the intersection of clinical reference testing and diagnostic development,” said Dr. Schutzbank. “I look forward to applying my experience in automated high-throughput screening and renal viral load quantification to refine our workflows and support the validation of new assay technologies.”
About Aria Diagnostics
Aria Diagnostics is a CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified high-complexity reference laboratory based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The laboratory specializes in molecular diagnostics, toxicology, and technical consulting. Aria serves hospitals, physician groups, and biotechnology organizations, providing services that range from routine clinical testing to assay validation and FDA submission support.