Thomas N. Wight, Ph.D., Joins Symic Biomedical Scientific Advisory Board
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Symic Bio, a clinical stage biotherapeutics company developing novel compounds that target and affect the extracellular matrix, today announced that Thomas N. Wight, Ph.D., Director of the Matrix Biology Program at the Benaroya Research Institute and Affiliate Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington, has been appointed as a member of the company's Scientific Advisory Board.
"Dr. Wight's research has helped build the foundations of our work in the clinic," said Seema Kantak, Chief Scientific Officer of Symic Bio. "As we move to test additional early stage applications of our proteoglycan-inspired technology, his experience will be an invaluable guide in helping us move the right programs forward. We are proud to have a researcher of Dr. Wight's stature contribute to our work."
"The biology of the extracellular matrix provides new ways of looking at disease mechanisms," said Dr. Wight. "The progress of clinical programs that take advantage of proteoglycan function will undoubtedly inform additional therapeutic applications. I'm pleased to be a part of efforts at Symic to contribute to the therapies based on research in relatively under-explored areas of biology."
Dr. Wight's research focuses on the role of proteoglycans in the regulation of cell phenotype and extracellular matrix assembly. He has published over 300 papers and has served on numerous editorial boards and NIH grant review panels. In addition to his positions at the Benaroya Research Institute and at the University of Washington, Dr. Wight is CEO and President of Matrexa, LLC. He is an Associate Editor of Matrix Biology and is a trustee and a Founding Member of the International Society of Hyaluronan Sciences. Dr. Wight is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and has received a Diploma of Honor from the University of Patras, Greece. He received a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire.
About Symic
Symic Bio is a clinical stage biotherapeutics company developing therapies inspired by proteoglycans, naturally occurring macromolecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The structural and regulatory properties of proteoglycans have potential applications in a wide variety of disease states. Symic Bio currently has two clinical candidates, one to address complications of vascular injury and one for disease modification in the treatment of osteoarthritis. In addition, Symic Bio is investigating applications in the areas of fibrosis and oncology.
For additional information please visit the company's website at www.symic.bio, LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/symic-bio/ or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/symicbio.
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SOURCE Symic Bio
