Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                           CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

                 Non-Employee Directors' Cash Compensation Plan

                                   SECTION 1.
                                     PURPOSE

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.'s Non-Employee Directors' Cash Compensation Plan
(the "Plan") has been established by Caliper Life Sciences, Inc (the "Company")
to attract and retain as members of its Board of Directors persons who are not
full-time employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries but whose business
experience and judgment are a valuable asset to the Company and its
subsidiaries.

                                   SECTION 2.
                                DIRECTORS COVERED

As used in the Plan, the term "Director" means any person who is elected to the
Board of Directors of the Company in January, 1997 or at any time thereafter,
and is not a full-time employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                                   SECTION 3.
                            FEES PAYABLE TO DIRECTORS

      3.1 Each Director shall be entitled to an annual retainer fee of Fifteen
Thousand Dollars ($15,000), payable quarterly in arrears for each calendar
quarter or portion thereof that s/he holds such office with the Company.

      3.2 Each Director shall be entitled to a fee of Two Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars ($2,500) for meeting of the Board of Directors that s/he attends in
person, and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for each meeting of the Board of
Directors that s/he attends via telephone or other electronic method.

      3.3 A Director who serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board
of Directors shall be entitled to an annual retainer fee of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000), payable quarterly in arrears for each calendar quarter or
portion thereof that s/he holds such office with the Company. A Director who
serves as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall be
entitled to an annual retainer fee of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000), payable
quarterly in arrears for each calendar quarter or portion thereof that s/he
holds such office with the Company.

      3.4 A Director who serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors shall be entitled to an annual retainer fee of Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500), payable quarterly in arrears for each calendar
quarter or portion thereof that s/he holds such office with the Company. A
Director who serves as member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors shall be entitled to an

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annual retainer fee of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), payable quarterly in
arrears for each calendar quarter or portion thereof that s/he holds such office
with the Company.

      3.5 A Director who serves as Chairman of the Governance and Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to an annual retainer fee
of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500), payable quarterly in arrears for
each calendar quarter or portion thereof that s/he holds such office with the
Company. A Director who serves as member of the Governance and Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to an annual retainer fee
of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), payable quarterly in arrears for each calendar
quarter or portion thereof that s/he holds such office with the Company.

                                   SECTION 4.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      4.1 Establishment of the Plan and coverage hereunder of any person shall
not be construed to confer any right on the part of such person to be nominated
for reelection to the Board of Directors of the Company, or to be reelected to
the Board of Directors.

      4.2 While the Company expects to continue the Plan, it must necessarily
reserve, and does hereby reserve, the right to amend or discontinue the Plan at
any time; provided, however, that any amendment or discontinuance of the Plan
shall be prospective in operation only, and shall not affect the payment of any
Directors' fees theretofore earned by any Director, or the conditions under
which any such fees are to be paid under the Plan, unless the Director affected
shall expressly consent thereto.<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.19

November 30, 2004

Mr. Thomas T. Higgins
90 Carlton Street
Brookline, Massachusetts 02446

Dear Tom:

I am pleased to formally confirm the verbal offer of employment that was
extended to you for the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer with Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. The position reports directly to me,
and I'm really excited that you agreed to join our talented leadership team.

To compensate you for your efforts and achievements in this position, your
compensation package will include base salary, bonus opportunity, stock option
award, restricted stock units and a comprehensive benefits plan.

The position being offered is classified as exempt. Your base salary will be
$10,833.33 paid semi-monthly (equivalent to $260,000.00 per annum). In addition,
it is the policy of Caliper to have all employees paid through direct deposit.
You will be eligible for a target management bonus of 35% of salary starting
2005. Payment of this bonus program is contingent upon achievement of a
combination of corporate metrics and individual goals.

The Board of Directors has approved a stock option grant for you to acquire
100,000 shares of Common Stock of Caliper and a grant of 50,000 restricted stock
units, in each case to be awarded upon the start of your employment with
Caliper. The price per share for these options will be fixed based on the
closing sales price (or closing bid, if no sales are reported) on the last
trading day prior to the date of grant. It is our intent to have your grant date
be your first day of employment. The shares subject to this option and
restricted stock unit grant will vest over a four-year period with 25% of the
shares vesting one (1) year from your start date, and thereafter the shares
shall vest quarterly at a rate of 1/16th of the shares at the end of each
quarter over the remaining three years. This option will be made pursuant to the
terms and conditions of Caliper's 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, and will be an
incentive stock option to the maximum extent possible under applicable law. This
restricted stock unit grant will be made pursuant to an individual equity award
agreement containing terms substantially similar to Caliper's 1999 Equity
Incentive Plan. In addition, if a vesting date for the restricted stock unit
award would occur on a date on which you cannot sell shares in the open market
as a result of Caliper's stock trading policies, such shares that would
otherwise vest on such date shall not vest on such date, but rather shall vest
on the first date thereafter upon which you may sell stock in the open market
not in violation of Caliper's stock trading policies.

With regard to benefits, you will receive all the employment benefits available
to full time, regular exempt employees of Caliper. These benefits include
medical, dental, vision, life,

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Thomas T. Higgins
November 30, 2004
Page 2

disability and travel accident insurance plans; voluntary supplemental insurance
programs; accrual of fifteen (15) days of vacation and five (5) days of flex
time starting in 2005; eleven paid holidays; and a 401(k) plan. Pam
Duggan-Schueler, Sr. Director of Human Resources, will contact you directly to
discuss these programs in more detail.

In addition, you will be eligible to participate in Caliper's Employee Stock
Purchase Plan effective June 1, 2005.

In accordance with the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986, employment in
the United States is conditional upon proof of eligibility to legally work in
the United States. On your first day of employment, you will need to provide us
with this proof. If you do not have these documents, please contact me prior to
your first day of employment.

Your employment with Caliper is voluntarily entered into and you are free to
resign at any time. Similarly, Caliper is free to conclude an employment
relationship where it believes it is in its interest at any time. While we hope
our relationship will be mutually beneficial, it should be recognized that
neither you, nor we have entered into any contract of employment expressed or
implied. Our relationship is and always will be one of voluntary employment "at
will".

As an employee of Caliper you will have access to confidential information and
you may, during the course of your employment, develop information or inventions
that will be the property of Caliper. To protect the interests of Caliper, you
will be required to sign the Company's Employee Agreement as a condition of your
starting employment. We wish to impress upon you that we do not wish you to
bring with you any confidential or proprietary material of any former employer
or to violate any other obligations you may have to your former employer.

This offer letter is an offer of employment and is not intended and shall not be
construed as a contract proposal or contract of employment. This written offer
constitutes all conditions and agreements made on behalf of Caliper and
supersedes any previous verbal commitments by the Company. No representative
other than me has any authority to alter or add to any of the terms and
conditions herein.

Tom, I would like for you to start your employment with Caliper Life Sciences,
Inc. as soon as possible, but I do recognize that your starting date is
dependent upon the date of the merger of V.I. Technologies, Inc. with Panacos.
Ideally your start date with Caliper will not be later than January 20, 2005.

Please contact Pam Duggan-Schueler in our Human Resources Department or me to
indicate your response to this offer. Upon your acceptance please sign and
return the original letter while retaining the copy of this offer for your
records. You may also send your signed copy to our confidential fax number,
508-497-2685, located in our Human Resources office.

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Thomas T. Higgins
November 30, 2004
Page 3

We believe we are far along in the process of assembling a "world class" team as
well as a broad and deep technology and product portfolio. Your experience and
talents will be a strong addition and all of us here at Caliper are looking
forward to you joining us in building a preeminent company.

Regards,

E. Kevin Hrusovsky
President and CEO

Accepted By:            /s/Thomas T. Higgins             Date: 12/13/04
                        -----------------------
                        Thomas T. Higgins

Anticipated Start Date  January 10, 2005

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