Responsible for the definition and supervision of operations and R&D projects involving nucleic acid chemistry, surface chemistry and fluorescent labels.Improved the existing array printing process and Introduced tailored QC procedures to increase yields and accuracy of the full process, from substrate to finished product.Streamlined the CVD based surface coating process, by improving yield and reduced by 3-fold the overall process time.Successfully transferred both the CVD based surface coating and the array printing processes to a third party CRO company for high volume manufacturing. Supervised the process from initial transfer to verification and manufacturing working closely with internal Quality Control and Business Development teams.Developed a novel surface chemistry for improved probe density, control of kinetic parameters for target hybridization, ease of process for CMOS surfaces, and reduced processing time and use of reagents.Coordinated the development of printing of arrays at CMOS-Wafer level process, with internal and external resources. From surface functionalization, to printing and dicing of the CMOS-Wafer. Including a removable sacrificial polymer-based coating of the printed wafer to minimize dicing damages to the arrays.Coordinated external resources for the development of a rapid and automatable FFPE sample extraction kit and reduced extraction time from 8 hours to 30 minutes, while maintaining high yield of amplifiable genomic material.

Next Generation Diagnostics for a Better LifeHeading reagents and assay development efforts in hauling the proprietary diagnostic systems from concept to prototype stage and finally to a fully scalable and manufacturable one. Definition of IP and product development landscape. Contributed to the definition of development and operational strategy on short and mid-range period.Hired and managed a technical team for the development of reagents and immunoassays for a microfluidic based diagnostic system and integration of its components.Led the efforts for implementation of Invention Disclosure procedures and functioned as point of reference with Patent firms for IP management. Filed for several patents. Represented the company from a technical stand point in high level interactions with prospective clients, B-testing, and co-development partners. Supervised the drafting and submission of several grant proposals for the development of diverse Cancer panels on POC system.

Clear Gene transforms Discoveries into Diagnostics. Our technology uses cutting-edge scientific discoveries to prevent dreaded clinical outcomes.Reporting to CEO, tasked to provide leadership in developing rapid nucleic acid methods for detection of positive margins in solid tumors. Devised experimental plan for development of rapid detection of genomic material from solid tumors.Contributed to the development of a novel isothermal amplification method for the detection of genomic material within 5 minutes.

Reported to the CEO and provided leadership and vision to diverse teams composed of chemists, biologists, and engineers in the design, synthesis, and scaling up of novel reagents used in a diverse variety of clinical assays.Participated in high level executive planning sessions and then assembled the necessary resources needed for concept to commercialization development of novel lines of assays and reagents that integrate with instrumentation.Hired and directed a cross-functional team for the formulation of bio-active reagents and the optimization of their shelf-life and operational stability. Led the development of a groundbreaking Nucleic Acid Amplification method for the multiplexed detection of pathogens in human samples used for diagnostic purposes in several clinical panels (Upper and Lower Respiratory, STD, Tropical Diseases). Supervised project from R&D to validation with clinical samples. Led the development of Immunoassays on a proprietary bead based systems to improve and replace the existing surface coated platform. Managed a team solely dedicated to design of processes for modification of surfaces and synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials.

Reported to the CEO and tasked to lead overall scientific, technical, and operational efforts of diverse groups of biologists, chemists, and engineers toward the goal of process and product development using a novel technology for the fabrication of DNA microarrays. Promoted a culture of scientific and technical excellence, multidisciplinary problem solving, teamwork, consistency, flexibility, execution, quality and effective communication. Represented the company during every capital fund campaign. Delivered compelling fundraising presentations that provided prospective venture capitalists with the technical information, product development strategies, and competitive intelligence needed to persuade them to invest. Selected to serve as Executive Director on the Board.Procured and managed a consortium of academic and industrial partners for Italian and EU grants.Delivered prototype progress reports internally and at later stages of development to investors, clients, legal representatives, the larger scientific community, and at the Board of Directors.Led development of technical processes such as Oligo DNA spotting, polymerase catalyzed reaction on solid phase, gel coating of solid support, chemical activation of DNA and gel supports, stamping, hybridization and analysis protocols.Developed a genomic platform for the rapid diagnostic of human samples used in two new product lines--detection of Nosocomial infections and for Cytogenetic screening. Submitted and oversaw the administration of several research grants (€200K-3MM) for the development of proprietary technology in collaboration with other European partners.Played a critical role in raising nearly $9MM in venture capital. Contributed to the definition of Intellectual Property and the development of Invention Disclosure procedures.

Designed, synthesized, and characterized novel molecules. Developed new chemistries and methods for fabrication of DNA microarrays. Supervised, trained, and oversaw work of Research Associates related to synthesis, purification, and measurement of kinetic parameters (UV/HPLC/CMR/Fluorescence) of photoactive molecules.Designed and synthesized several photo-cleavable substrates and their phosphoramidite derivatives to use in the synthesis of DNA microarrays for genomic analysis.Developed and proved a theory that resulted in the synthesis of multiple products that enabled the company to improve tenfold the final output of length of DNA strands.Developed, optimized, and put in practice a novel technology for the in-situ photosynthesis of oligonucleotides on silica surfaces at a sub-micron resolution. Created new Intellectual Property for the company including novel methodologies for the in-situ synthesis of oligonucleotides, new reagents for the achievement of DNA microarrays with a submicron resolution, and methods for detection of DNA.

Studied the effect of stacking interactions (H-, J-aggregates; excimers; E.T.; C.T.) of synthetic fluorescent DNA bases upon their absorption and emission properties to develop novel emittive probes. Synthesized, purified and characterized several non-natural, fluorescent nucleosides and their phosphoramidite derivatives used in automated DNA synthesis to generate DNA oligomers with novel optical properties.Investigated mechanism of RNA polymerases (HCV and E.coli) by measuring kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km) of single nucleotide insertion of natural and isostere triphospahates with radiolabeling (32P) methods.

Synthesized, purified and characterized several cyclic and acyclic tertiary amines, (N,N-dialkyl-anilines and benzylamines, N-arylaziridines).Studied the mechanism of reaction of such compounds with enzymes (cytochrome P450, from rat liver and from Fungi) and relative biomimetic models (porphyrines), and analyzed effect of structure upon the two competing mechanistic pathways: E.T and deprotonation vs. Hydrogen Atom Transfer.