Ian Gibbons (biochemist)

Gibbons was brought in by CEO Elizabeth Holmes in 2005 as the company's chief scientist.[5] Gibbons was the first experienced scientist hired,[2] with the title of senior director of assay development.[6][7] As chief scientist, Gibbons often gave the staff informal lectures on biochemistry and the science of blood testing. To ensure product success, Gibbons insisted that blood test results from Theranos developmental devices need to match benchmark results of competitors' commercial analyzers. Theranos' devices often became a source of frustration for Gibbons, as they differed, sometimes significantly, from the benchmarks. His high standards became a source of friction with Theranos engineers and senior management. Senior management warned employees who questioned the accuracy of the technology.[5] As a result of his desperation, Gibbons confided to his wife that "nothing at Theranos is working".[2] Holmes' practice of discouraging communication between departments also troubled Gibbons. The reason given for such information siloing was that the company was operating in stealth mode to protect its trade secrets.[5] However, it prevented effective problem solving and pursuit of common goals between employees.

With an insider perspective, Gibbons knew of Holmes' lies to employees and outsiders about Theranos' technology and readiness, as well as false demonstrations to clients. Thus, Gibbons no longer trusted Holmes. However, he continued to struggle to make the flawed Theranos technology catch up to the hype.[8][2]

In the fall of 2010, Channing Robertson alerted Holmes of Gibbons' complaints and frustrations. Gibbons was subsequently fired. Several of his colleagues lobbied on his behalf, and he was quickly rehired, with reduced responsibilities: as a technical consultant to the chemistry group he had formerly headed.[5]

In 2011, Gibbons became involved in a patent theft case involving Theranos and Richard Fuisz. The American entrepreneur and inventor had been a former friend and neighbor of Elizabeth Holmes and her family. But the two families had fallen out and Fuisz's offer to help Holmes with her invention had been declined.[9]

After Fuisz studied publicly available patent information regarding Theranos technology, he filed his own patent for a physician-alert mechanism that could be embedded in a testing device after identifying it was not covered by any Theranos patents. However, without owning this patent, Theranos would have needed a license from Fuisz' patent to cover physician/patient alerts; a highly desirable feature in a medical analyzer. When Theranos discovered that Fuisz had filed his patent, it responded by filing a lawsuit for patent theft alleging he had misused Theranos' existing patent technology.[5][2]

While researching his defense to the Theranos lawsuit, Fuisz noted that Gibbons was often named as co-inventor with Holmes on many Theranos' patents. He also noted there were similarities between Gibbons' Theranos patents and those he had filed while working for a previous employer, Biotrack. In response, Fuisz added Gibbons' name to his list of witnesses to be deposed to answer questions about improper reuse of past work and the identification of Holmes as a co-inventor.

Gibbons became very nervous and depressed when he learned that he would be subpoenaed to testify. He wanted to avoid being deposed because he was afraid his job depended on his testimony. Gibbons believed that if he told the truth, he would lose his job, and have limited future job prospects due to his age.[2][10]