Laura Bix

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Michigan State University
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Packaging
Assistant ProfessorAppointed: 2002
Professional Headshot of Laura Bix

Mailing Address

153 Packaging
East Lansing, Michigan 48824
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (517) 355-4556
Fax: (517) 353-8999
bixlaura@msu.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., Michigan State University, Packaging, 2001.
M.S., Michigan State University, Packaging, 1998.
B.S., Michigan State University, Packaging, 1993.

Expertise and Research Interests

Label Legibility of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
Recent Regulatory Activity Surrounding OTC Labeling
Accessibility of Label Information
Child Resistant/Elder Friendly Packaging
Poison Prevention Packaging
Packaging and the Elderly Population
Package Integrity

Future Research

I have an interest in exploring medical packaging. I would like to examine how packaging design contributes to errors that occur in the health care system of the United States. As mentioned previously, I have a particular interest in the impact that medical packaging has on elderly consumers.

Industrial Relevance

The industrial relevance of this field is significant. The elderly are at particular risk from mismedication due to changes in their perceptual, cognitive and physiological systems; this risk is further exacerbated when they live alone. The impact on society, and the probability of litigation increases as the population ages. Designing packages targeted at the elderly also makes good business sense. Woolley (1999) indicates the elderly have 'twice the per-capita consumption (of prescription medications) of the rest of the population'. Elderly consumers spend more on OTC medications, as well. One study found that the elderly spent twice as much each month on OTC medications when compared with young adults (Sansgiry and Cady, 1996).

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Packaging or Packaging Technologies.

Additional Terms:

Child Resistant Packaging, Ease of Use, Labeling, Legibility, Medical Packaging, Microbes and Packaging, OTC Labeling, Package Integrity, Packaging, Packaging and the Elderly, Poison Prevention, Universal Design.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)

Memberships

ASTM Technical Committee D-10
ASTM Technical Committee F-02
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
Institute of Packaging Professionals

Honors and Awards

2005, Ameristar Packaging Awards, Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP)
2004-2006 MD&DI, Medical Design Excellence Awards
2004-2004, Ameristar Packaging Awards, Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP)
2004ASTM International, Committee D10.32
2001-2002, Grant Writing Competition - One of the four best proposals submitted, Office of the Vice President for Research and The Michigan Agricultural Experimental Station, Michigan State University
1998-1999 Label Packaging Suppliers Council, Ph.D. Candidate Award

Previous Positions

1995-1996, Personnel Director, Mebane Packaging Group
1994-1995, Leadership Through Quality Director, Mebane Packaging Group
1993-1994, Structural Designer and Estimator,
1992-1993, Design Intern, Rock-Tenn

Funding Received

  • Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research (CFPPR): Improving the utility of child resistant packaging, $7,500, 2004 to 2005.
  • Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research (CFPPR): Comparative study of two methods to quantify contact area between consumers and packages, $7,500, 2004 to 2005.
  • Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research: Sight, Sound and Child Resistance, $5,000, 2003 to 2004.
  • Allegiance Healthcare: Sampling and Allegiance Healthcare, $12,200, 2002 to 2003.
  • Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research (CFPPR): Use of the Pac Guard 500 in the nondestructive detection of package defects, $5,000, 2002 to 2003.
  • Center for Food and Pharmaceutical Packaging Research (CFPPR): Examining the effectiveness of required warnings on OTC labels, $5,000, 2002 to 2003.

Publications

  • Sansgiry, S., Bix, L., Clarke, R., Pawaskar, M., Drug Information Obscured on OTC Medication Labels By External Tags, Drug Information Journal, 39(2), 159-171, Apr 2005
  • Gilliland, D., Bix, L., Lockhart, H., Fotis, N., Sterile Packaging and Sample Size, China Medical Device Manufacturer, 1(2), 33-39, Spring 2005
  • Gilliand, D., Bix, L., Lockhart, H., Fotis, Nick, Sterile Medical Device Packaging: Statistics and Sample Sizes in Operational Qualifications, Medical Device and Diagnostics Industry, 26(10), 72-77, October 2004
  • Bix, L., de la Feunte, J., Lockhart, H., Universal Design: Packaging With Universal Appeal, Packaging World, 11(4), 79-83, April 2004
  • Bix, L., Sansgiry, S., et al., Retailer tagging practices: A potential liability?, Packaging Technology and Science, 17(1), 3-11, January 2004
  • Bix, L., Lockhart, H., et al., Is x-height a better indicator of legibility than type size for drug labels?, Packaging Technology and Science, 16(5), 199-207, September 2003
  • Bix, L., Lockhart, H., Cardoso, F. and Selke, S., Testing FDA's Mandate for Over-the-Counter Medication Labels, Journal of Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management, 15(4), 17-36, 2003
  • Bix, L. and McKeon, J., An Industry Takes Shape: The FPA Story 1950-2000, 2000
  • Bix, L., Kassarjian, O., Cardoso, F., Lockhart, H., Using Scanning Electron, Confocal and Optical Microscopy to Measure Microscopic Holes in Trays, Packaging Technology and Science, In Press
  • Bix, L., The Elements of Text and Message Design and Their Impact on Message Legibility: a Literature Review, Journal of Design Communication
  • Bix, L., Lockhart, H., et al., The effect of color contrast on message legibility, The Journal of Design Communication, Spring 2003

Profile Details

Last Verified: 8/13/2005

COS Expertise ID #981736
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/bixlaura