History, People, Mission of Triclinic

The not so sordid story of how a group of scientists set out to create a world-class chemical development and analysis lab...

(and had a lot of fun doing it)

The abridged version of how we built a one-of-a-kind contract research group...

Triclinic Labs was founded in 2009 by David E. Bugay, G. Patrick Stahly, Shawn C. Comella, and Scott L. Childs.

The principals at Triclinic were the scientific and operations drivers behind the growth of SSCI, a solid-state contract laboratory, that was the industry's first. The principals' shared belief in the value of customer focus, scientific integrity, and innovation led to the decision to create new capabilities at Triclinic Labs after SSCI was acquired in 2006.

In 2009 we began with just an idea to create a unique organization committed to comprehensive solid-state analysis, novel analytical techniques and data interpretation, and a focus on the chemical intellectual property these services generate. Back then we had a handful of instruments and minimal lab space (see the picture below). We've grown considerably since and now occupy more than 18,000 square feet of custom-built wet and dry laboratory, office, and conference space.

Why we're different:


We've spent the last ten + years building Triclinic Labs into a highly responsive, unique, and innovative contract physical and analytical chemistry contract service lab. We've leveraged nearly three decades of solid-state experience to build a focused development lab. We're not trying to be all things to all people. One stop does not fit all. We don't have an army of low wage technicians cranking out data. We're the custom tailor in an off-the-rack industry. You get the attention your project deserves. We treat each project as unique, just like the molecule we work on.

We have a different culture here.


Despite not being a startup, we still operate like one. Everyone is empowered to do the right thing for our clients and we actually get back to you when you have a question. You can reach anyone in the organization. Our employee retention rate is nearly 100% over 10 years. That's our best statistic. It shows in the work our employees do for you.

We Communicate.


Our historic client repeat rate is 98.3%. We believe that statistic is partly due to our ongoing efforts to offer tailored services and unique offerings. Our clients tell us we set the bar in responsiveness, scientific results, and actionable interpretation - we'd like to demonstrate there's a difference in service providers to you as well. You won't have to wait to hear from us. Questions get timely answers. We don't have a complicated response process - you communicate with the scientists.

We Innovate.


Our internal R&D program has produced numerous innovations including:
  • Novel techniques and approaches to solid-state screening and selection which have significantly increased the probability of finding new forms
  • Innovative software tools for methods and analysis of materials improving the level of detection to higher sensitivity than previously reached
  • Unique techniques for drug product imaging and mapping
  • Novel variable temperature and humidity transmission X-ray powder diffraction stages
  • Greater understanding of the structure of non-crystalline materials, lyophile water content, and nano materials
  • Our experts have contributed to more pharmaceutical development milestones and legal matters than any other group of contract physical and analytical chemistry experts.



We Collaborate.


We'll treat your project as important. Because it is. We'll provide better data, faster - and give you guidance on what to do with that information. So you can solve your development needs and move your programs forward.
The history of Triclinic Labs, Inc.

We'd like to earn your business...

Please contact any of our team members to arrange a free consultation or to request more info.

Meet some of our team...

G. Patrick Stahly, Ph.D.
Founding Member

Dr. Stahly has over 40 years of experience in the specialty and pharmaceutical chemical industries. Since obtaining a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, he held positions of increasing responsibility at the Ethyl (now Albemarle) Corporation, was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Scientific Officer of SSCI, Inc., and was Vice President of Scientific Operations of Aptuit. His expertise includes process organic chemistry, crystallization, solids analysis, x-ray diffraction, pharmaceutical preformulation, and chiral chemistry. He is an inventor of 44 US patents and author of 35 publications, including peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. In addition, Dr. Stahly has lectured extensively throughout the world and has taught numerous courses on solid-state chemistry. Pat retired in 2022 and now spends his time boating, fishing, relaxing, and enjoying his family.



David E. Bugay, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Bugay, an AAPS Fellow, has over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical development and associated intellectual property. Since receiving a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, he held advancing positions in the Analytical R&D Department of Bristol-Myers Squibb, was Senior VP of Analytical Chemistry at SSCI, Inc., and was Managing Director of the Legal Services group of Aptuit Consulting. His expertise includes vibrational and NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, chemometrics, and scientific aspects of patent litigation. Dr. Bugay has been an invited speaker at dozens of conferences and has taught numerous courses. In addition, he has published many peer-reviewed scientific papers, written book chapters, authored his own book, and served on the USP General Chapters Expert Committee from 2005 to 2010.



Aeri Park, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Park received her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma and is a recognized industry expert in API solid form screening and selection, solid-state characterization of APIs, intermediates, and drug products, crystallization method development, patent prosecution support, and frequently acts as an expert witness in Paragraph IV litigation matters both domestically and internationally. Dr. Park will lead Triclinic's efforts in physical and analytical chemistry services as well as contribute to its patent prosecution and litigation expert services practice. Dr. Aeri Park, was formerly Director of US Operations for The Almac Group and established and grew a US-based analytical laboratory for the firm. Prior to joining Almac, Dr. Park was instrumental in the growth and scientific success of SSCI, a solid-state development group.

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Andy Gilkison, Ph.D.
Director, Analytical Method Development

Dr. Gilkison received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Purdue University in 2005, where his research focused on the investigation of intra molecular relaxation dynamics in super-excited states of small molecules using muli-resonance optical spectroscopy. Dr. Gilkison spent 9 years, prior to joining Triclinic Labs, as a research Investigator at SSCI, Inc., where he later advanced to the position of Senior Research Investigator. There he served as a subject matter expert for vibrational spectroscopy, and developed and validated GMP solid state analytical methods for pharmaceutical.

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Stephan (Steef) Boerrigter, Ph.D.
Research Fellow

Dr. Boerrigter received his Ph.D. in Computational Materials Science from Nijmegen University, The Netherlands, where his research focused on Crystal Morphology Prediction. Prior to joining Triclinic Labs, Dr. Boerrigter spent 12 years at AMRI (formerly SSCI, Inc.), where he advanced to the position of Senior Research Investigator. There he served as a group leader in materials science, focusing on polymorph, salt, and cocrystal screening, applying computational methods for solid-state characterization and phase transitions, as well as structure elucidation by single-crystal diffraction. At Triclinic, Dr. Boerrigter leads the Materials Modeling group in both organic and inorganic analysis and advanced method development and validation capabilities.

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Byungsu Kwan, Ph.D.
Director, NMR Services

Dr. Kwon received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from MIT. His areas of research during his Ph.D. involved the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins using solid-state NMR and biophysical techniques. After 2 years as a postdoc at MIT, Dr. Kwon joined Triclinic as Director of NMR services where he is contributing to identification of chemical compounds, structure elucidation, characterization of solid forms, determination concentration and potency, and patent prosecution and litigation support using liquid- and solid-state NMR. Dr. Kwon has not only gained a broad knowledge of NMR spectroscopy in both software and hardware, but also obtained significant experience in advanced solid-state NMR applications and was responsible for performing state-of-the-art MD simulations. In addition, Dr. Kwon has an extensive knowledge of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and Native chemical ligation (NCL).


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Nico Setiawan, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist

Dr. Nico Setiawan received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Kentucky. Nico is an expert in the preformulation space of API development, including solid form screen and selection, solid-state and physicochemical characterization, crystallization process development, development of enabling formulation for poorly soluble compounds, and biorelevant dissolution method development for orally administered compounds. His research focuses on integrating properties of API and physiological barriers to deliver efficacious drug products. Dr. Setiawan has published papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences. He is also an active reviewer of several peer-reviewed journals.


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Shawn Comella
Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Comella has over 25 years of experience in starting, growing, selling, turning around, and managing life-science companies and ventures. He manages the financial, strategic, and business aspects of Triclinic Labs. Prior to co-founding Triclinic Labs, he held management and executive positions at Roche Diagnostics, SSCI, and Monarch LifeSciences - all leaders in their respective life-science fields. Mr. Comella has been an invited speaker at AACC, Professional Pricing Society, Indiana's Life Science Initiatives, serves on governance boards, and has taught classes in Entrepreneurialism at Purdue University. He has published numerous articles with colleagues on improving pharmaceutical R&D efficiency, development micro economics, and accelerating the drug development process. He attended The Ohio State University for undergraduate and graduate education.

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