Dr. Gregory Critchfield Joins Integrated Diagnostics' Board of Directors

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - October 05, 2010) - Integrated Diagnostics, an emerging leader in molecular diagnostics founded by Lee Hood, M.D., Ph.D., today announced that Gregory Critchfield, M.D., M.S., has joined the company's Board as an independent director. Dr. Critchfield is the past president of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc., where he successfully built the company's medical, scientific and commercial capabilities. Integrated Diagnostics, which raised a $30 Million Series A in the fall of 2009, is developing large-scale, blood-based molecular diagnostics that leverage advances in technology to detect disease at its earliest stage.

"Having built Myriad Genetic Laboratories into one of the world's leading molecular diagnostics companies, Greg Critchfield is one of a small handful of visionary scientific entrepreneurs responsible for building the industry," said Albert A. Luderer, Ph.D., CEO of Integrated Diagnostics. "I have had the pleasure of working with Greg in the past and know firsthand that his experience creating and commercializing novel diagnostic products and technologies will make him an essential part of the Integrated Diagnostics team. We have sought to carefully assemble a network of top scientists, physicians, entrepreneurs, investors and partners whose expertise will allow us to successfully execute our vision for advanced diagnostics. Greg is a critical member of that group and we are very pleased to welcome him to the Board."

Drs. Critchfield and Luderer recently collaborated at BioTrove, a venture-backed molecular biological tools company where Dr. Critchfield served as an independent director. As that company's CEO, Dr. Luderer led BioTrove to a successful acquisition by Life Technologies in December 2009.

"Lee Hood's vision for large-scale molecular diagnostics that provide systems level knowledge about health and disease holds tremendous promise for earlier detection, improved disease management and better health outcomes," said Dr. Critchfield. "At Integrated Diagnostics I see the combination of vision, technology and leadership necessary for success. I am thrilled to work with Lee, Al and the other Board members to bring this vision to fruition."

Dr. Critchfield led Myriad Genetics Laboratories for nearly 12 years before retiring in 2010. During his tenure he launched seven novel diagnostics products across multiple technology platforms, growing annual revenues from $2.2M to $326.5M. Under his leadership Myriad established the world's highest quality, highest throughput clinical sequencing facility. In his previous position, he was responsible for innovation and medicine in the spin-out of Quest Diagnostics, Inc. from Corning Clinical Laboratories, serving as Quest's Chief Medical and Science Officer.

Integrated Diagnostics uses proteomic and genomic techniques to identify and detect organ-specific blood proteins that appear at the earliest stage of disease. This work is based on Dr. Hood's groundbreaking research in protein blood markers at The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB).

By monitoring blood proteins that are only synthesized in the organ of interest, the company's diagnostics gather systems level knowledge to identify subtle changes that result from disease or treatment.

With today's announcement, Integrated Diagnostics' Board now includes:

  • David Barker, Ph.D., past CSO, Illumina, Board chair, Integrated Diagnostics
  • Gregory Critchfield, M.D., M.S., past president, Myriad Genetic Laboratories
  • Jim Heath, Ph.D., co-founder, Integrated Diagnostics & professor of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology
  • Lee Hood, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder, Integrated Diagnostics & co-founder, ISB
  • Patrizia Luchetta, M.A., chair, BTC Luxembourg & head of the Life Sciences and Technologies Department, Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  • Albert A. Luderer, Ph.D., CEO, Integrated Diagnostics
  • Arnold Oronsky, Ph.D., general partner, InterWest Partners

About Integrated Diagnostics

Integrated Diagnostics (www.integrated-diagnostics.com) is creating large-scale, blood-based molecular diagnostics that leverage advances in technology to detect disease at its earliest stage. The company, which was founded in October 2009 by genomics and systems biology pioneer Dr. Lee Hood, is developing diagnostic products and measurement technologies that enable physicians and patients to manage complex and important diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's through blood tests that can monitor tens to hundreds of disease markers simultaneously. The company is conceptually based on a systems view of disease where pathophysiology arises from disease-perturbed networks of proteins, genes and other molecules. Emphasizing sophisticated biomarker selection through informatics, the company is also developing proprietary technology to speed the low-cost, rapid creation of large-scale assays. Investors include InterWest Partners, The Wellcome Trust and BioTechCube Luxembourg. Foundational intellectual property originated from the Institute of Systems Biology and Caltech.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Eliot Dobris
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