Nephrosant, Inc.

Pittsburgh, PA, May 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Women In Bio is proud to announce that Gina Ford has joined our team as Executive Director. Gina brings a wealth of experience, having worked in the life science and non-profit industries for years. She is a champion of women in the sciences, and we are thrilled to have her guide WIB into the future. As WIB nears the conclusion of its latest 3-year Strategic Plan and looks ahead to the future, we are thrilled to have Gina at the helm. Her leadership will continue to drive positive changes that will elevate our operational excellence, enrich our existing programming, and reinforce WIB's position as a premier organization for women impacting the life sciences and beyond. “After an extensive search with hundreds of candidates, I am thrilled for Gina Ford to serve as the WIB Executive Director.” WIB President Azurii K. Collier, Ph.D. shared: “As a pharmacist by training, prior association Executive Director, and a formidable corporate executive, we believe Gina will identify and deliver on big audacious ideas. Gina is the right leader for WIB’s growth phase, and I look forward to all we will achieve together in a One WIB spirit.” Gina Ford is a highly experienced professional with 20 years of expertise in life sciences, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles in Corporate Strategy, Commercial, Portfolio Management, Business Development and Patient Advocacy. As the new Executive Director of Women In Bio, I am honored to lead an organization comprised of some of the most talented and accomplished women in the life science industry. Women In Bio has established itself as the premier organization dedicated to advancing women in our industry, and I am excited to work with our members and partners to continue this legacy. Together, we will drive progress toward greater gender diversity and equity and ensure that women have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in the life sciences and beyond. - Gina Ford, WIB Executive Director As the principal of One Joule, LLC, a corporate strategy consulting firm she founded, Gina provided strategic advice to life science clients on various business aspects, including company formation, corporate strategy, fundraising, dealmaking, and US commercial and globalization strategies. In her recent Executive and C-Suite roles at OncoSynergy, NephroSant, and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Gina was responsible for Corporate Strategy, Corporate Development, and Commercial Planning, where she helped drive growth and development for these companies. Gina is a Doctor of Pharmacy with an MBA. She is an accomplished start-up and growth phase expert, sought after for her successful fundraising experience at all levels. Early in her career, Gina was the executive director for the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. Her long-term focus on patient advocacy highlights her commitment to the life science industry’s core mission of improving patient outcomes through innovative therapies and treatments. Gina’s previous industry leadership roles include AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen Pharmaceuticals, Solstice Neurosciences, and Elan Pharmaceuticals. WIB President-Elect Sarah Odeh commented: "I'm thrilled that Gina is joining our team! With her background, Gina is perfectly positioned to continue driving WIB forward. Her vision and commitment to WIB will allow us to continue elevating and celebrating all women, from the classroom to the boardroom, who are impacting and changing the life sciences". This June, Gina will be heading to Boston for the BIO International Convention where she is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to connect with WIB's Volunteer Leaders, Supporters, Sponsors, and Partners. It's the perfect chance to discuss all things WIB and strengthen our network of allies in the life sciences industry.

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juno Diagnostics (JunoDx), a company focused on bringing vital health information to patients by improving access, affordability and transparency, today announced the appointment of Todd Whitson as Executive Vice President, Global Business Development and Commercial Operations. Mr. Whitson is a well-recognized veteran in the genetics and molecular diagnostics fields who brings more than two decades of healthcare experience to JunoDx. "Todd is a proven commercial leader with over twenty years of experience. Under his leadership, Todd has launched a number of diagnostic tests and generated multi-million-dollar revenue streams," said Dirk van den Boom, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JunoDx. "In preparation of our Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) test launch, his track record and experience in reproductive and organ health, infectious disease and oncology, will be invaluable as we look to transform access and affordability of highly valuable genetic testing." Prior to joining JunoDx, Mr. Whitson served as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer of NephroSant, where he was responsible for gaining Medicare reimbursement and launching QSant, a urine based test for Kidney Transplant Rejection Monitoring. Mr. Whitson also served as Chief Commercial Officer for CareDx, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostic surveillance for heart and kidney transplant recipients. Prior to CareDx, Mr. Whitson served as Vice President of Commercial Operations for Ariosa Diagnostics, now part of the Roche Group, where he helped grow the startup from pre-revenue to a global market leader in non-invasive prenatal testing, in only two years. "I'm thrilled to join the outstanding team at JunoDx, composed of pioneers in liquid biopsy testing that have transformed prenatal care with the development and commercialization of the first non-invasive cell-free DNA based prenatal test in the U.S.," added Mr. Whitson. "JunoDx is well-positioned to disrupt the NIPS market through the industry's first capillary blood based liquid biopsy platform that will empower millions of pregnant women and their physicians to monitor the health of their unborn children in the most accessible and cost-effective way." With Juno Hazel™ NIPS, JunoDx is ushering in the next generation of non-invasive prenatal tests. The Company's NIPS solution simplifies sample collection and improves access to high quality genetic testing results without the high cost, long lead times, and phlebotomy requirements of traditional NIPS. Recent endorsements by professional medical societies have recognized the use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as the most sensitive and specific screening test for common fetal aneuploidies for all pregnant women, which drastically expands the addressable market. About Juno Diagnostics Juno Diagnostics is a category defining health company bringing vital prenatal health information to patients by combining access, affordability and transparency. The Company's lead product, Juno Hazel™, is a non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) solution that simplifies sample collection and improves access to high quality genetic testing results without the high cost, long lead times, and phlebotomy requirements of traditional NIPS. For more information, visit and engage with us on LinkedIn. Investor and Media Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point amy@juniper-point.com 858-366-3243 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Juno Diagnostics

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 16, 2021 / NephroSant, Inc., a kidney health spin out of UC San Francisco, today announced it has closed its oversubscribed Series A funding round of $16 million. DaVita Venture Group led the investment round, with participation from DigitalDx Ventures and other previous investors. The funding will be used to support research and development and the launch of NephroSant's first product: Qsant™, a needle-free urine test that helps determine if a patient's body is rejecting a transplanted kidney. "We are very excited about the opportunity to work with DaVita, a recognized leader in kidney care," said Dr. Minnie Sarwal, CEO and founder of NephroSant, as well as Professor of Surgery at UCSF. "Their expertise and experience provide the perfect complement to the vision and focus of NephroSant to redefine kidney health." Qsant™ is the first home-based urine test designed specifically for the detection of kidney transplant rejection, without the need for a costly and invasive biopsy. This test uses multiple biomarkers including a proprietary technology for measurement of urine cell-free DNA. Currently, up to 40% of all kidney transplant recipients result in clinical or sub-clinical rejection. Identifying and predicting rejection earlier will enable clinicians to intervene sooner and help patients live a longer life. "Transforming kidney care requires bold innovation, which is precisely why DaVita Venture Group invested in NephroSant and its game-changing solution that helps patients manage their transplanted kidney health," said Dr. Jeff Giullian, Chief Medical Officer for DaVita. "As a transplant nephrologist, I look forward to a future where patients not only have greater access to a transplant but also can extend the life of a transplant with Qsant™." By giving the patient the option of an in-home sample collection method, Qsant™ enhances patient convenience and safety, especially important in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Qsant™ requires a single urine void instead of a 24-hour urine collection. Qsant™ uses a proprietary-based algorithm to generate a quantitative rejection risk unique for each patient, referred to as the patient's personalized "Q-Score." "As Nephrosant's first institutional investor, we are honored to welcome DaVita Venture Group and follow them into this next round of funding," shared Michele Colucci, founder and Managing Partner for DigitalDx Ventures. "Dr. Minnie Sarwal's non-invasive urine tests for kidney health and transplant rejection are revolutionary, combining a patient-centric approach and exceptional accuracy. We are very fortunate to be able to support this incredible female founder and play an integral role on the board as we pursue our mission to make quality healthcare more accessible to all." About NephroSant NephroSant is a fast-paced diagnostic startup founded by physicians, with a team of world-class scientists, engineers and clinicians, focused on applying the founding team's years of clinical research expertise to improve global kidney health. Our mission is to translate the deep scientific and pathological insights into best-in-class noninvasive tests to address the hidden epidemic of chronic kidney disease, which affects more than 10% of the world's adult population, through a growing pipeline of products. Nephrosant was spun out of the Sarwal Lab, UCSF. To learn more, visit nephrosant.com. About DaVita Inc. DaVita (NYSE:DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. Through DaVita Kidney Care, the company treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage kidney disease. DaVita is committed to bold, patient-centric care models, implementing the latest technologies and moving toward integrated care offerings for all. Through these efforts, DaVita has also become the largest provider of home dialysis in the country. As of Dec. 31, 2020, DaVita served 204,200 patients at 2,816 outpatient dialysis centers in the United States. The company also operated 321 outpatient dialysis centers in 10 countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care industry to adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About. Media: NephroSant Todd Whitson twhitson@nephrosant.com (408) 477-0536 DaVita Halie Peddle halie.peddle@davita.com (303) 550-6349 Related Images SOURCE: NephroSant View source version on accesswire.com: