SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held provider of life science tools for translational research and developer of molecular diagnostics, today announced the appointment of Joseph M. Beechem, Ph.D. as Senior Vice President of Research and Development. An industry veteran, Dr. Beechem will be responsible for establishing and executing the company’s technology and product roadmaps related to its innovative nCounter® Analysis System, an advanced multi-application technology platform based on digital molecular barcoding.
Dr. Beechem joins NanoString from global biotechnology tools leader Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) where he was most recently Vice President, Head of Advanced Sequencing and Head of Global Sequencing Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biophysics. Prior, he served as Chief Technology Officer of Life Technologies, Chief Scientific Officer at Invitrogen, and Director of Biosciences at Molecular Probes. During his career at Life Technologies, he led the design and development of multiple genetic analysis technologies, the latest advanced SOLiD sequencing technology (“WildFire”) and the single molecule nano-DNA sequencing technology (“StarLight”). In addition, Dr. Beechem participated in the technical due diligence of many genetic analysis and detection technologies, including Ion Torrent.
“Joe is a technical leader of unusual scientific breadth, and has been instrumental in leading the technical development of some of the industry’s most advanced genomics technologies,” said Brad Gray, President and CEO of NanoString Technologies. “His extensive commercial and research experience will be invaluable as we continue to drive the performance envelope of the nCounter system.”
Prior to his industry experience, Dr. Beechem led an NIH-funded research laboratory for 11 years as a tenured associate professor at Vanderbilt. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in diverse fields such as biomathematics, physics, chemistry, physiology, spectroscopy, diagnostics and biology. Dr. Beechem is also named on nearly 30 U.S. patents and has served on a number of prestigious editorial and scientific advisory boards. He was awarded a B.S. in Chemistry & Biology from Northern Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from The Johns Hopkins University.
“The nCounter System is a winning technology: digital, non-amplified, multiplexed direct-RNA species quantitation. This platform has earned its reputation as a powerful and easy-to-use solution for a range of discovery and translational research applications,” said Dr. Beechem. “I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and am eager to work with the NanoString team to expand the applications of the nCounter system in research and, eventually, molecular diagnostics.”
More information is available at www.NanoString.com.
About NanoString Technologies, Inc.
NanoString Technologies is a privately held provider of life science tools for translational research and developer of molecular diagnostics. The company’s nCounter® Analysis System is the first and only technology platform to deliver highly multiplexed, direct profiling of individual molecules in a single reaction without amplification. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile hundreds of gene transcripts, copy number variations, or miRNAs simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. The company’s technology enables a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. NanoString is also developing the technology for use in molecular diagnostics.