IRVING, Texas, Nov. 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caris Life Sciences, Inc., a leading biosciences company focused on enabling precise and personalized healthcare through the highest quality anatomic pathology, molecular profiling, and blood-based diagnostic services, announced today recent appointments and additions to its senior scientific staff at facilities in Lausanne, Switzerland and Phoenix, Arizona to focus on novel biosignature identification and next-generation diagnostic assay development. The expansion includes 20 research scientists, technologists, and bioinformaticians. Caris Life Sciences has a long-standing and increasing commitment to commercialization of cutting-edge biomedical science, as evidenced most recently by its Carisome™ circulating microvesicle (cMV) technology. This proprietary blood-based technology is currently being developed for earlier, more accurate and less invasive testing for cancer and other complex diseases.
"This is a critical juncture in the development of what, we believe, will be a paradigm shift in diagnostics, with the further expansion and development of our circulating microvesicle-based Carisome technology," said Dr. Christine Kuslich, Caris Life Sciences Senior Vice President, Group Head, Research & Molecular Diagnostics. "Caris Life Sciences is demonstrating our commitment to deliver these cutting-edge developments to patients as rapidly as possible with an aggressive global expansion of our R&D team and expertise."
Among the recently announced appointments, Andy Tasinato, Ph.D., leads the Swiss team as Director of Research at the recently launched R&D lab in Lausanne. Prior to joining Caris, Dr. Tasinato was Head of Research for the University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV) and Bern, where his research efforts concentrated on stem cell research, biomarkers and tumor biology, and using microarrays and transgenic models. His primary role at Caris is to establish the lab's R&D operations and focus on the discovery of new signatures for different cancer indications.
In addition, Dr. Tasinato will oversee the European senior science team, including Elodie Ristorcelli, Ph.D., and Gherici Hassaine, Ph.D. Dr. Ristorcelli earned her doctorate in biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine in Marseille, France where she focused on the apoptotic role of exosomes (a subgroup of circulating microvesicles (cMV)) secreted by pancreatic cancer cells, completed by a postdoctoral fellowship on skin cancer development at the University of Lausanne. Dr. Hassaine earned his doctorate in molecular biology at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France. Prior to joining Caris, Dr. Hassaine led the R&D lab of BioXtal, working on protein manufacturing.
Caris Life Sciences also announces new members to the science team at the Phoenix facility who are dedicated to enhancing and developing the Carisome platform, including Dan Holterman, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Holterman brings to Caris a broad spectrum of professional experience, including basic, translational and clinical cancer research. In particular, his background includes development work in molecular pathology and diagnostics, as well as regulatory expertise with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Joining Dr. Holterman are Wang-Juh (Sting) Chen, Ph.D., Bioinformatics Scientist; Jorge Schettini, Ph.D., Literature Research Scientist; and Tassilo Hornung, Ph.D., who will be focused on characterizing the novel protein markers associated with the Company's new assays, as well as creating synthetic microvesicles to speed research efforts on the potentially transformative cMV technology.
About Caris Life Sciences
Caris Life Sciences, a leading biosciences company, specializes in the development and commercialization of the highest quality anatomic pathology, molecular profiling, and blood-based diagnostic technologies, in the fields of oncology, dermatopathology, hematopathology, gastrointestinal pathology and urologic pathology. The company provides academic-caliber consultations for thousands of patients a day, through its industry-leading team of expert, subspecialty pathologists. Caris also offers advanced molecular analyses of patient samples through prognostic testing services and genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiling to assist physicians in their treatment of cancer. Currently, Caris is developing Carisome™ circulating microvesicle (cMV) technology, a proprietary, blood-based technology for diagnosis, prognosis, and theranosis of cancer and other complex diseases. The company is headquartered in the Dallas metroplex, operates laboratories in the Dallas, Phoenix and Boston metro areas and is entering the European markets through its first international location, in Switzerland. For more information, visit .
CONTACT: Caris Life Sciences Media Inquiries: Holly Clark 214-596-7060 hclark@carisls.com