BioNanomatrix, Inc., a developer
of breakthrough nanoscale whole genome imaging platforms for genetic
diagnostics, personalized medicine and biomedical research, today
announced the appointment of noted biophysicist Paul R. Selvin, Ph.D.,
to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Selvin is
professor of physics and biophysics and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Selvin's research focus includes single molecule detection
and nanoscale fluorescent measurement. He is the inventor of
a widely used nanoimaging technique called FIONA, or Fluorescence
Imaging with One Nanometer Accuracy. In 2006, his
achievements in developing novel nanoscale tools won him Tel Aviv
University's prestigious International Raymond and Beverly Sackler
Award for the most outstanding advance in biophysics, noting his
pioneering discoveries of fluorescence techniques and his work in
single molecule detection and ultra-sensitive
instrumentation. Dr. Selvin also was selected for the
Biophysical Society's top award for Outstanding Young Investigator in
2004, and he has been the recipient of many other honors.
"Paul has extensive experience in nanotechnology research and
development, both as a noted scientific researcher and an inventor of
important research tools," said Dr. Han Cao, chief scientific officer
and founder of BioNanomatrix. "His work in the area of single
molecule imaging is especially relevant to the development of our
single molecule whole genome imaging and analysis platform, and we
anticipate he will be a valuable contributor as we advance the
development of our nanoscale technologies."
Dr. Selvin joined the department of physics at the University
of Illinois in 1997, where he has focused his research efforts on
technology development and biological applications for the study of the
dynamics of biological macromolecules using fluorescence. He
developed the FIONA imaging technique, which can deliver 1.5 nanometer
spatial localization of single fluorescent molecules with 1-500
millisecond temporal resolution, an advance in precision over previous
fluorescence imaging techniques. He has developed a number of
single molecule fluorescence modifications for the FIONA system, as
well as single molecule fluorescence resonance energy
transfer. Previously, Dr. Selvin served as a scientist and
researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University
of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan and Coulter
Biomedical Research Corporation.
"BioNanomatrix has distinctive nanoscale single molecule
technology that has the potential to transform whole genome imaging and
analysis, enabling researchers to conduct DNA analyses much faster and
less expensively than with existing methods, while also achieving
greater accuracy and retaining valuable contextual information," said
Dr. Selvin. "I look forward to working with the BioNanomatrix
team to contribute to the process of advancing the technical and
commercial development of this promising new approach."
Dr. Selvin received a B.S. from the University of Michigan and
a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a
postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the
University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Selvin has authored
over 70 publications and holds five patents.