The Dark Intelligence Group Team
Robert L. Michel
President & Editor in Chief
Deborah Lucas Michel, RN
Vice President
Deborah Lucas Michel RN is the Vice President for the Dark Intelligence Group based in Spicewood, Texas since 2000. She is responsible for Audio Conferences, Human Resources, Contract Monitoring, and financial oversight. She has a nursing degree and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from USC. Nurse Debbie is a psychiatric nurse with expertise in Quality Management, Program Development, and Case Management. When not working, she does volunteer work for community based services, trains Engel, enjoys sailing, and dancing. She can be reached at djlucas@darkreport.com or directly at 512-264-7103.
Robert Croce
Executive Publisher/General Manager
Email: bcroce@darkreport.com
Phone: (512) 264-7103
After almost 18 years as an executive in B2B publishing, Bob joined The Dark Intelligence Group in September 2018 to run daily operations and assist founder Robert Michel with a plan for future growth. Bob’s stops as a publishing company leader include health care information and training companies HCPro and Carlat Publishing, and Wellesley Information Services in the IT space. While at HCPro as Group Publisher, Bob was a part of a management team that helped that company through 10 years of super growth, leading to two private equity recapitalizations. A Boston area native, and graduate of Northeastern University, Bob splits his work time between our Spicewood, TX, main office, and his home office in the Boston area, where he lives with wife Maureen and their two “cheagle” puppies named Sully and Murphy.
Ron Rohrer
Phone: (317) 446-0225
Ron has more than 25 years of sales leadership experience excelling in the microbiology/infectious disease market. He has successfully pioneered multiple novel technology launches.
Ron is a forerunner in cultivating and capturing new standards for diagnostic medicine. He introduced and grew the following: First generation molecular with Gen-Probe, First generation MRSA and CDIFF PCR testing with GeneOhm Sciences, Multiplex PCR launch with Biofire Dx, Mass Spectrometry at Bruker, and Host Immune Response technology.
Ron is a graduate of the University of Dayton. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Lisa. Together they have raised three children and celebrate eight grandchildren. Ron enjoys coaching sports, Indy cars, biking, boating and camping.
Michael McBride
Managing Editor
Email: michael@mcbrideimedia.com
Phone: (616) 502-0850
Michael McBride is Managing Editor of Dark Daily and The Dark Report. He has been writing/editing magazine and website content on clinical laboratory medicine, pathology, healthcare information technology, and related topics for three decades. He also has edited 12 fiction novels for various authors. Michael is former Editor-in-Chief of Health Management Technology magazine, Technology Editor for Medical Economics magazine, and Editorial Director for Pandamoon Publishing.
Amanda Curtis
Manager of Marketing & Operations
Phone: (512) 264-7103
Amanda has over 20 years experience working in executive supporting/accounting roles. She has been an executive office manager, retirement plan administrator, and bookkeeper. Amanda lives near The Dark Report headquarters in Spicewood, TX with her husband and twin sons. She also has a grown daughter who lives in Dallas. Amanda is also a certified personal trainer, part-time wedding coordinator and venue manager.
New Washington University Medicine Blood Test Can Diagnose and Track Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease with 92% Accuracy
Findings could lead to clinical laboratory test that can both track the disease’s progress and differentiate it from other forms of dementia Another research study is underway with hopes of developing a new clinical laboratory blood test to aid in the diagnoses of...
Nearly 10% of Patients Surveyed Claim to Have Been Hurt by UK’s National Health Service
With public trust in healthcare organizations dropping, clinical laboratories worldwide must work doubly hard to provide competent, secure services to their patients Is the UK’s National Health Service hurting people? About 10% of NHS patients said yes in a recent...
Elizabeth Holmes’ Partner, Billy Evans, is Creating an Artificial Intelligence Medical Testing Startup
NPR reports that the shamed Theranos founder/CEO is providing advice to Evans, but the startup denies that claim Prison bars can’t block Elizabeth Holmes from finding her way back into the news spotlight. The disgraced founder and former CEO of Theranos is reportedly...
Researchers in Japan Discover Link Between Gut Bacteria and Parkinson’s Disease
Findings may lead to new clinical laboratory testing and treatments for Parkinson’s patients Gut bacteria have repeatedly been proven to perform critical roles in the development of certain diseases. And many clinical laboratory tests use human microbiota as...
Prenatal Testing Incidentally Finds Cancer in Mothers, Becomes Focus of New National Institutes of Health Long-term Study
Discovery could lead to new clinical laboratory testing for cancer screening in new mothers Any clinical laboratory test that returns unexpected results is worth looking into more deeply. Such was the case with a recent study conducted by the National Institutes of...
US Mortality Rates among Young Adults Have Soared Pre- and Post-Pandemic, Study Finds
Researchers tracked “excess deaths” among adults aged 25 to 44 years and found disparate causes to blame Studies conducted at the University of Minnesota and Boston University found that mortality rates among young adults have risen substantially since 2010 due to a...
Candida Auris is Once Again Spreading in US, According to Multiple Reports
Hospitals in 38 states confirmed patient infections of the dangerous, drug-resistant fungus Rapidly spreading Candida auris fungus is once again showing up in hospitals throughout the United States, with multiple cases confirmed in Georgia and Florida. Hospital...
Commercially Available AI Tool Significantly Improves Prostate MRI Analysis
Artificial intelligence tools for radiology, clinical laboratory, and pathology diagnostics continue to advance and improve Researchers in Germany have developed a fully automated, artificial intelligence (AI) tool that improves the diagnosis of prostate cancer....
University of Pittsburgh Scientists Develop Clinical Laboratory Test That Detects Alzheimer’s in Early Stages
Research could lead to new biomarkers that detect Alzheimer’s much earlier than existing tests and help scientists understand why some people with the disease do not develop dementia Key biomarkers for detecting the progression of Alzheimer’s disease have typically...
AI in Clinical Laboratories Will Drive Business Forward for Diagnostic Leaders, Experts Say
At least a dozen sessions at the 2025 Executive War College explored artificial intelligence use in clinical labs Although not explicitly stated, it was clear at the 2025 Executive War College on Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory, and Pathology Management conference...