SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics Testing: Critical Role in the Pandemic

John J. Sninsky, PhD is a translational medicine consultant with deep understanding of diagnostics and diagnostics paired with medicine intervention. John has served in senior management positions in small and large CLIA service companies and small and large in vitro diagnostic kit companies including Cetus, Roche Molecular Systems, Celera, Quest and CareDx. He was a member of the pioneering Cetus team that developed and optimized PCR technology for research and diagnostic use; specifically, the virology team developed the HIV, HTLV, HPV, HCV and HBV PCR assays. John put in place a surveillance initiative for viral variants and presented at the first FDA PMA advisory meeting for HIV PCR approval.

Tom White was VP of Research at Cetus Corporation, where he directed R&D for applications of PCR in basic research, forensics and diagnostics. He subsequently worked for Roche Molecular Systems as Senior VP of R&D and was Senior VP of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Celera Corporation. His career involved FDA registration of molecular diagnostic (IVD) products, laboratory developed (CLIA) tests for complex common diseases, and basic research on the molecular evolution of HIV and fungal pathogens. He is a scientific advisor for the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND.org), Global Oncology (globalonc.org), and several biotechnology companies.

Maria-Nefeli is currently Director, Scientific & Technical at Mammoth Biosciences. She is a scientist bioengineer with 17 years of R&D experience derisking complicated assay workflows, and delivering microfluidic systems for diagnostics in government, academia, non-profit and industry. She is a tricultural, quadrilingual science communicator with 50+ talks globally in technical conferences, and invited engagements to both specialist and generalist audiences. She is a co-author of 30+ peer-reviewed publications and co-inventor of 8+ patents in paper-based microfluidics and molecular diagnostics. Maria-Nefeli has a BSc (Hons) degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry and a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry from Southampton University and earned a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University.

Michael Busch earned his MD and PhD degrees at the University of Southern California followed by residency training in Pathology, Laboratory Medicine and Transfusion Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is currently Director of Vitalant Research Institute (BSRI) and Senior Vice President for Research and Scientific Affairs at Vitalant, a national network of blood centers and donor testing laboratories. He is also a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at UCSF. Michael is one of the world’s leading transfusion medicine scientists, well-regarded for his ground-breaking work in such transfusion-transmitted diseases as HIV and West Nile virus and protection of the nation’s blood supply from these and other emerging pathogens. In addition to his leadership as Director of Vitalant Research Institute, Michael is a member of the Transfusion Transmitted Diseases Committee of AABB, the Research and Development Advisory Committee of Canadian Blood Services, President Elect of ISBT (International Society of Blood Transfusion) and several World Health Organization panels.