Expert Details
Infectious Disease Diagnostics and Scientific Leadership
ID: 736094
California, USA
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1977 | Degree: MS | Subject: Computer Science | Institution: UC Davis |
| Year: 1975 | Degree: BS | Subject: Computer Science | Institution: University of San Francisco |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: CEO and co-founder | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provide technical and managerial consulting/coaching to biotech startups from inception through Series A funding rounds. Other roles include director, advisor, and scientific advisor. Current and recent clients have been in CRISPR, Point of Care PCR, single-cell sequencing, microarray, microbiome, and novel diagnostic modality spaces. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1978 to 2018 | Employer: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Title: Associate Program Leader, Bioinformatics | Department: Global Security |
Responsibilities:I built and led multi-disciplinary scientific teams on the Human Genome Project (1987-2000) and pathogen biodefense projects sponsored by Homeland Security, Defense Department, and Intelligence agencies (2000-2018.) I served on 5 National Academy of Science committees focused on biodefense topics from 2009-2018. My team developed pathogen diagnostic solutions that were used in nationwide biodefense programs as well as by researchers world-wide on a range of human and animal health issues.Computer scientist supporting biological and biodefense research • Awarded 7 patents on pathogen detection and 1 patent on database technology • Built and led bioinformatics for LLNL Human Genome Center (1987-2000). Developed key algorithms for physical mapping and built database infrastructure for mapping and sequencing Human Chromosome 19. Co-author on 2001 Nature publication of the first human genome. • Principle Investigator on the following multi-year projects: o Microbial Forensic Encyclopedia, DHS (2008-2014) o Transformational Medical Technology, DTRA (2009-2012) o Bioinformatics Research, Intelligence Community (2003-2011) o Novel Immuno Signatures, DHS (2011-2014) o Microbial Forensics, DoD (2012-2015) o Next-Gen Sequencing as a Diagnostic, DTRA (2012-2014) o Bio-Intelligence Chip Test & Evaluation, IARPA, (2015-16) o Genes of Concern, DHS (2015-2018) o Microbial Forensics, DoD (2016-2018) o Functional and Computational Analysis of Threats, IARPA (2016-2018) o BioWatch Data Management System Expansion, DHS (2017-2018) • Built and led Pathogen Bioinformatics team (2000-2018) that co-developed the nationwide BioWatch system (in 24x7 mode since 2003 in 30+ US cities, monitoring for aerosol bioterror pathogen releases.) • Led the LLNL team that designed and eventually commercialized a pan-microbial microarray that detects > 14,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This required enormous database infrastructure and supercomputers. • Co-Chaired CDC Blue Ribbon Panel on Bioinformatics (2011) that led to Congress providing ~$40M/yr new funding in 2013 for the Advanced Molecular Detection program that provided DNA sequencing technology to Public Health labs in all 50 states. • Invited member of CDC Multipathogen Platform Consultation for Respiratory Diseases, 2018 • Chaired the Advisory Boards of the USDA/NSF/DOE-funded US Rice Genome Sequencing and Annotation programs (2000-2008) and the Maize Database grant (2002-2007). • Member, Jackson Lab Mouse Genome Database advisory board (1997-1999) • Served on 4 National Academy of Science panels on biodefense topics (Select Agent science, DoD laboratory competency, PCR Standards for BioWatch, Synthetic Biology Risk) from 2009-2018. • Appointed to the National Academy of Science Standing Committee advising the DoD’s Senior-level manager of Programs to Counter Biological Threats (2012-2015) • Chaired NIAID Genome Sequencing Centers (2008) and Infectious Disease Centers (2013) proposal reviews that each led to $40M+ funding for multiple 5-year contracts • Invited Speaker, FDA Public Meeting: “Advancing Regulatory Science for High Throughput Sequencing Devices for Microbial Identification and Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Markers” • Invited Speaker, FDA Public Meeting on Validating Highly-Multiplexed Assays, 2011 • National Biosurveillance Advisory Subcommittee member, 2010-2013 • First Computer Scientist named as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at LLNL (2012) • Informatics consultant, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima Japan, since 1998 |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2011 to 2011 | Agency: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) | Role: Special Government Employee | Description: I co-chaired the CDC's Blue Ribbon Panel on Bioinformatics that led to Congress funding the Advanced Molecular Detection program since 2013. |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1986 to 1986 | Country / Region: China | Summary: Co-taught computer science at Peking University in a program run by the Ministry of Science and Technology. |
Career Accomplishments
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| • Principle Investigator on the following multi-year projects: o Microbial Forensic Encyclopedia, DHS (2008-2014) o Transformational Medical Technology, DTRA (2009-2012) o Bioinformatics Research, Intelligence Community (2003-2011) o Novel Immuno Signatures, DHS (2011-2014) o Microbial Forensics, DoD (2012-2015) o Next-Gen Sequencing as a Diagnostic, DTRA (2012-2014) o Bio-Intelligence Chip Test & Evaluation, IARPA, (2015-16) o Genes of Concern, DHS (2015-2018) o Microbial Forensics, DoD (2016-2018) o Functional and Computational Analysis of Threats, IARPA (2016-2018) o BioWatch Data Management System Expansion, DHS (2017-2018) • Co-Chaired CDC Blue Ribbon Panel on Bioinformatics (2011) that led to Congress providing ~$40M/yr new funding in 2013 for the Advanced Molecular Detection program that provided DNA sequencing technology to Public Health labs in all 50 states. • Invited member of CDC Multipathogen Platform Consultation for Respiratory Diseases, 2018 • Chaired the Advisory Boards of the USDA/NSF/DOE-funded US Rice Genome Sequencing and Annotation programs (2000-2008) and the Maize Database grant (2002-2007). • Member, Jackson Lab Mouse Genome Database advisory board (1997-1999) • Served on 4 National Academy of Science panels on biodefense topics (Select Agent science, DoD laboratory competency, PCR Standards for BioWatch, Synthetic Biology Risk) from 2009-2018. • Appointed to the National Academy of Science Standing Committee advising the DoD’s Senior-level manager of Programs to Counter Biological Threats (2012-2015) • Chaired NIAID Genome Sequencing Centers (2008) and Infectious Disease Centers (2013) proposal reviews that each led to $40M+ funding for multiple 5-year contracts • Invited Speaker, FDA Public Meeting: “Advancing Regulatory Science for High Throughput Sequencing Devices for Microbial Identification and Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Markers”, 2014 • Invited Speaker, FDA Public Meeting on Validating Highly-Multiplexed Assays, 2011 • National Biosurveillance Advisory Subcommittee member, 2010-2013 |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| • Recipient of two R&D 100 Awards, (BioWatchand Applied Biosystems Axiom Microbiome Array) • First Computer Scientist named as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
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| Expert has co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the fields of bioinformatics, pathogen detection and characterization, microbial forensics, and related topics. He has 6 issued US patents on PCR detection of various infectious microbes and one issued US patent on data warehouse technology. |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Expert has taught Unix, C programming, Perl Programming, and Bioinformatics Infrastructure courses for UC Berkeley Extension (1988-1991, 1999-2001). He co-taught MS-level computer science classes at Peking University (Fall, 1986) and UC Davis LLNL campus, 1982-1984. |
| Vendor Selection |
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| Expert has participated or led vendor selection activities throughout his LLNL career (1978-2018.) These focused on computer hardware and software purchases. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert was one of 4 people asked by the CDC in May 2020 to review their data on a new COVID-19 PCR assay, prior to submission to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization. |