Biotechnology innovation and new product development underpin some of the most impactful public health interventions in recent generations. I have been fortunate to contribute to some of them with my work on the technologies that shifted testing of the nations blood supply to molecular testing, as well as, first-in-class genetic engineering programs for food, health and environment.
EXPERTISE- Genetic, genome, and molecular engineering technologies for food and protein production
- Medical diagnostics, food safety testing, and environmental threat detection
- Genetic, genome, and molecular engineering of human and animal therapeutics, medicines, and vaccines
- Molecular epidemiology, epidemic intelligence, environmental and public health interventions
Currently advancing and raising to further execute on R&D projects: (redirect to www.planetary-genetics.com)- Quantitative serological SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) assay for protective neutralizing antibodies
- Protein production of animal-free growth factors for cultivated meats with algal expression systems
- Engineering SARS-CoV-2 sewer surveillance systems and environmental testing platforms
Executed on multiple first-in-class advanced detection programs yielding FDA cleared CBER regulated blood screening and CDRH regulated medical diagnostics, including:
Participated in technology diligence to support acquisition or internal development and deployment of novel biotechnology platforms and first-in-class products reviewed by FDA, USDA, EPA and US FWS regulators:
- AquaBounty genetically engineered fish, first GE food animal approved for human consumption (salmon)
- Oxitec genetically engineered insects to fight infectious disease and agricultural pests ($160M acquisition)
- ViaGen cloning for food and companion animals, as well as endangered species
- Trans Ova Genetics bovine reproductive technologies ($110M acquisition)
- Okanagan Specialty Fruits genetically engineered non-browning apples and other fruits ($41M acquisition)
- EnviroFlight alternative protein feed nutrition using insect larvae
- GenVec human and animal molecular vaccine platform
- Engineered cell therapy platforms
- ActoGeniX (ActoBiotics™) engineered microbial human and food animal medicinal platform ($60M acquisition)
- Genomatix proprietary software for promoter design for genetic and genomic engineering
- ILH, formerly Codexis, protein production facility in Hungary
- Intrexon’s UltraVector® platform for protein engineering and gene switches for control of protein production [microbes, plants, animals, humans]
- Intrexon’s pioneering of gene-edited environmental clean-up systems for emerging contaminants of concern [e.g., 1,4-dioxane]
read more... Medicine focuses on individual health. Public health focuses on populations. Patient advocacy is a critical part of bridging the two disciplines across the health system. My work over the years has been focused at the intersection of technology and public health interventions to benefit patients individually and collectively.
My experiences of the topics below have focused me on the value of patient-centered interventions in terms of approach to both technology development and measuring patient outcomes.
- Molecular epidemiology
- HIV and HBV/HCV screening for the U.S. blood supply
- Infectious disease diagnostics
- Global health and international development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- American Lung Association Healthy Air Campaign
- US domestic and global AIDS policy
- Genomic and health data management infrastructure
- Precision medicine
- COVID-19 pandemic