Applied DNA Sciences Launches Forensic Product, Adds Executive Talent

A new tactical forensic product to aid law enforcement agencies and the arrival of three new sales and marketing executives are among announcements made so far in 2011 by Stony Brook-based Applied DNA Sciences Inc.

According to a company release, the new product, called DNANet, is a forensic DNA marking system developed with the help of police agencies around the world. It facilitates unique DNA authentication codes, which the company called "unbreakable" and said are already being implemented by both law enforcement and security companies.

"DNANet has been tested in Sweden with impressive results," Anders Burén, a Swedish reconnaissance official, said in a statement. "I believe that DNANet will have a great impact on crime, which will result in a significant reduction in victims of crimes and help keep the citizens of Sweden safe."

The company has said the use of DNA technology has helped increase the likelihood of courtroom convictions and criminal confessions, and often is the basis for heftier sentences. The product launch followed the Jan. 4 announcement of two more cases in which Applied DNA's technology helped link suspected thieves to cash-in-transit robberies in the United Kingdom. In those cases, police in London and the West Midlands recovered cash marked with Applied DNA's SigNatureDNA tags, which helped convict the criminals.

"Our DNA platforms are gaining new markets in military and police applications, in response to our reliable performance in cash-in-transit services," Dr. James Hayward, CEO of Applied DNA, said in a statement.

The company also announced the addition of three new executives, whom Hayward expects will "provide the company the means to strategically build upon our new and existing business."

Dave Wigfield, formerly the managing director and general manager of Eastman Kodak's North American graphic communications group, has been named vice president of sales. Tom Gladke, newly appointed director of sales for textiles, has over 25 years of experience in the areas of fiber, yarn, fabric, finished products and textile printing. Larry McIntosh is the company's new director of sales for electronics, and will lead the company's attempt to expand into microchip marking.