AMO director ‘will work to support discovery and development’

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has announced the appointment of Dr Simon Kilvington as director of microbiology, a position in which he will be responsible for its scientific and managerial leadership in this area.

In this role he will support the company’s efforts to discover and develop new products for corneal care and contact lenses.

Before joining the firm, Dr Kilvington worked as a senior lecturer at the Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Leicester.

AMO said he is renowned as an international authority on pathogenic free-living amoebae with expertise on viruses, bacteria and fungi in the field of ocular infection.

Leonard Borrmann, executive vice-president of research and development at the firm, said: “Dr Kilvington’s appointment will significantly strengthen AMO’s research efforts into the development of novel technologies, particularly in the field of contact lens disinfection.”

He added that the company anticipates his continued partnership with academic research centres and external thought leaders.

In August 2007, AMO announced the appointment of Richard J DeRisio as vice-president of global regulatory affairs at the company, with the responsibility of overseeing the development and implementation of global strategies for existing and new products.