CombiMatrix Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX) announced today that Dr. Karine Hovanes has joined its wholly owned subsidiary, Combimatrix Molecular Diagnostics (CMDX), as its Laboratory Director. Dr. Hovanes is a Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Genetics in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Clinical Cytogenetics and is also licensed in New York and California in both cytogenetics and molecular genetics. Dr. Hovanes joins CMDX from Laboratory Corporation of America, otherwise known as LabCorp.
"It is a pleasure for me to join the expert management and extended scientific team of Combimatrix Molecular Diagnostics. Array CGH testing has been the latest methodology to advance our knowledge of the human genome and has significantly contributed to the fields of genomic research and medical diagnostics. While there are undoubtedly several diagnostic service laboratories attempting to establish themselves as esoteric genome test providers, few have the legitimate claim to innovative leadership that CMDX does," said Dr. Hovanes. "I am certain that the microarray platforms and test menu offered by CMDX are ideally positioned to enable physicians to make better treatment decisions regarding their patients and enormously contribute to clinical research and discovery. The sentiments and referrals that I have received from several of CMDX's growing portfolio of customers confirm my assessment of CMDX," concluded Dr. Hovanes.
"I am delighted by the addition of Dr. Hovanes to our already stellar staff of medical and clinical experts," said Dr. Mansoor Mohammed, President and Chief Executive Officer of CMDX. "Dr. Hovanes brings an impressive set of clinical diagnostic expertise to our company, which spans the molecular and cytogenetic underpinnings of both oncology and childhood development disorders and ideally mirror our industry leading portfolio of tests. The appointment of Dr. Hovanes helps us ensure that we can continue to deliver our industry leading quality of service with unsurpassed turn-around times and client-customized services, in spite of our growing test menu and concomitant increase in monthly test volumes," concluded Dr. Mohammed.
Dr. Hovanes earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, and then completed her postdoctoral clinical training in both cytogenetics and molecular genetics at the Intercampus Medical Genetics Training Program of the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Hovanes's academic accomplishments are highlighted by the fact that she was a recipient of both a predoctoral grant from the NCI (National Cancer Institute) and a postdoctoral grant from the NIH (National Institute of Health). Prior to joining CMDX, Dr. Hovanes was the Assistant Laboratory Director at Esoterix and subsequently the Assistant Laboratory Director at U.S. Labs (acquired by LabCorp). Dr. Hovanes joins the clinical and medical staff at CMDX that include, Dr. Shelly Gunn, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director; Dr. Ryan Robetorye, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Medical Director; Dr. Phil Cotter, Ph.D., Associate Laboratory Director; and Dr. Mercedes Gorre, Ph.D., Vice President of Scientific Affairs.