ALACHUA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. today announced that Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and former Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), was elected to its Board of Directors.
“Andy is a great addition to Banyan. He recognizes the value of biomarkers for diagnosing traumatic brain injury as a physician and understands what it takes to successfully manage a comprehensive research and clinical development program,” said Hank Nordhoff, Banyan Biomarkers Chairman of the Board.
Jackson Streeter, MD and CEO added: “In addition to his in-depth knowledge of biomarkers, his experience as the former Commissioner of the FDA provides a wonderful insight and we are honored to have Dr. von Eschenbach as part of the team.”
“Banyan Biomarkers is developing a technology that would revolutionize how we diagnose and evaluate the traumatic brain injuries that are taking a devastating toll on soldiers, athletes, and accident victims. I am eager to contribute to Banyan Biomarkers’ efforts to rapidly bring such hope for a better outcome to so many in desperate need,” stated Dr. von Eschenbach.
Dr. von Eschenbach currently serves as President of Samaritan Health Initiatives and Adjunct Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. From September 2005 to January 2009, he served as Commissioner of the FDA, where he immediately engaged an agenda to modernize the agency. He joined the FDA after serving four years as director of the NCI at the National Institutes of Health. At the time of his appointment by President George W. Bush to serve as director of NCI, he was president-elect of the American Cancer Society.
Dr. von Eschenbach entered government service after an outstanding career over three decades as a physician, surgeon, oncologist, and executive. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Urologic Oncology, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. An internationally renowned cancer specialist and the author of more than 300 scientific articles and studies, Dr. von Eschenbach was one of the founding members of the National Dialogue on Cancer. In 2006, he was named to the "TIME 100," the magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people; in both 2007 and 2008, he was selected as one of the Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician's "50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in Healthcare."
Dr. von Eschenbach earned a B.S. from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and his medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. After completing a residency in urologic surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, he was an instructor in urology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
About Banyan Biomarkers
Banyan Biomarkers is a spin-out company from the University of Florida and is the leader in developing brain injury in vitro diagnostics. The Company is focused on developing a simple point-of-care blood test that will be used by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma and improve the medical management of head injured patients. To learn more about Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. visit http://www.banyanbio.com/