SBRI was co-founded and continues to be led by President Ken Stuart, Ph.D., an infectious disease expert with a unique entrepreneurial spirit. The SBRI administrative management team joins Stuart in running the day-to-day operations of the Institute.

Tom Blackwell, Director, Information Technology
Blackwell has more than 20 years experience in IT operations, network architecture, applications development and telecommunications. With a master's degree in information systems, he oversees SBRI’s information technology infrastructure and future directions and is an active member of BRIITE (Biomedical Research Institutions Information Technology Exchange). 

Karen Blöchlinger, Patent Counsel
Before going to law school, Blöchlinger was a scientific researcher studying the development of the nervous system using fruit flies as a model system.  After law school, she worked as the intellectual property law firm Christensen O'Conner Johnson & Kindness before joining SBRI as patent counsel.

Theresa Britschgi, Director of BioQuest
Britschgi joined SBRI in 2004 as the director of BioQuest, SBRI's science education outreach program.  As active member of the local science education outreach community, she is a 12-year veteran of the biotechnology/ pharmaceutical industry with an established publication and patent record in the fields of functional mammalian genomics and molecular diagnostics.

Randal Hassler, Vice President, Operations & Finance
Hassler brings more than 25 years of successful biopharmaceutical executive leadership to his new position at SBRI, including 12 years of increasing responsibility at Amgen, where he recently retired from his position as Vice President of Facility Operations. Hassler oversees the key functions of finance, facilities, information technology and human resources, all of which are vital to the success of SBRI's science. He has a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Indiana University, as well as a masters in microbiology from Colorado State University.

Kent Irwin, Director of Facilities
Irwin offers more than 20 years of experience in facility operations, repair and maintenance, including an extensive background in a biomedical laboratory environment. He oversees all facilities, environmental health and safety operations at SBRI.

Marilyn Parsons, Ph.D., Associate Director
Parsons has served as SBRI’s Associate Director since 1988. With a long record of scientific achievement in parasitology, she heads her own independent area of research in the study of parasitic diseases. She also acts as a communications and coordination link between the organization's scientists, its Board of Trustees and the community.

Lee Schoentrup, Senior Communications Manager
With more than 15 years of communications experience, Schoentrup has worked in such diverse industries as health care and software development, as well as non-profit organizations. She oversees SBRI's communications efforts, including events, marketing, public relations and publications.

Kenneth Stuart, Ph.D., President and Director
A world-renowned scientist recognized for his revolutionary discoveries, Stuart co-founded SBRI in 1976. At SBRI, Stuart heads up his own research laboratory while fulfilling broad institute-building roles. 

Lynn A. Zimmerman, MHA, Director of Finance
Zimmerman comes to SBRI from Talaris Research Institute, a Seattle-based non-profit that works to improve childhood development, where she managed the financial and business operations. At Talaris, she developed and monitored the strategic budget and managed all internal financial reporting. Prior to Talaris, Lynn was Vice President at the Washington Health Foundation where she supervised the foundation's direct-service programs and operations. She's also worked at Group Health Cooperative and Harborview Medical Center. Lynn holds a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and a master's degree in health administration from the University of Washington. She is a member of the Seattle Rotary Club and King County Project Access for Specialty Services.