Leading pediatric and genetics experts from Boston Children’s Hospital; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester; and SHIRE Pharmaceuticals join the Claritas mission to improve patient care and enable pediatric precision medicine

January 05, 2016

BOSTON / PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Claritas Genomics, Inc., announced today the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprised of physicians and scientists recognized as leading experts in the areas of medical genetics, neurology, oncology, pharmacology, translational medicine and drug development. The SAB’s mission will be to provide valuable scientific and clinical insights, along with strategic guidance, as Claritas seeks to advance its pediatric precision medicine solutions for institutions around the world.

“We are honored to welcome such an outstanding group of experienced clinicians and scientific thought leaders to our excellent team to help support the Claritas mission,” said Patrice Milos, Chief Executive Officer of Claritas Genomics. “This Scientific Advisory Board shares our recognition of the urgent need to expand the rate of diagnosis in children with rare diseases. Together we aim to make genetic diagnostic testing for rare diseases a routine part of pediatric clinical care by making it easier for clinicians to access the right tests and the best experts so they can provide their patients with the best possible care.”

The Claritas Scientific Advisory Board:

Tracy A. Glauser, MD (Chair) Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 
Louis M. Kunkel, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital 
Scott L. Pomeroy, MD PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital 
Nina F. Schor, MD, PhD, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester 
Albert Seymour, PhD, Head of Research, SHIRE Pharmaceuticals 
Christopher A. Walsh, MD PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital

Tracy A. Glauser, MD (SAB-Chair) Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, co-founder of the Genetic Pharmacology Service at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). He is also Associate Director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation and Associate Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. 

Lou Kunkel, PhD Director of the Program in Genomics and Director of the Sequencing/Genotyping, Expression Array and FACS Sorting Core Facilities at Boston Children’s Hospital; Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics at Harvard Medical School. He is an internationally recognized geneticist with years of experience and scientific success in the discovery of the genes responsible for muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders, most currently for identification of dystrophin as the causative gene in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. http://www.childrenshospital.org/researchers/louis-kunkel

Scott L. Pomeroy, MD PhD Chair, Department of Neurology and Neurologist-in-Chief, Boston Children’s Hospital; Bronson Crothers Professor of Neurology and Director, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Harvard Medical School. His research interests focus on the molecular and cellular biology of brain tumors, specifically on medulloblastomas which are the most common malignant brain tumors of childhood. http://www.childrenshospital.org/doctors/scott-pomeroy

Christopher A. Walsh, MD PhD Chief, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and Bullard Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Harvard Medical School. His research has focused on the development, evolution and function of the human cerebral cortex, pioneering the analysis of human genetic diseases that disrupt the structure and function of the cerebral cortex. http://www.childrenshospital.org/doctors/christopher-walsh

Nina F. Schor, MD PhD William H. Eilinger Chair and Professor of Pediatrics and Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology & Anatomy, Pediatrician-in-Chief, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center. Repeatedly named to “Best Doctors in America”. Her research is focused on the pre-clinical pharmacology of targeted therapies for neuroblastoma, particularly the role of neurotrophin receptors and their interactors. 

Albert Seymour, PhD Global Head of Research and Nonclinical Development at Shire Pharmaceuticals. He leads a team of scientists who are responsible for delivering a sustained portfolio of rare disease focused therapeutic projects. Prior to joining Shire, Albert held various leadership positions at Pfizer where his team applied human genetics and computational biology to discover and develop novel therapeutics targeting diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. 

About Claritas Genomics 
Claritas Genomics serves children affected with complex genetic disorders by providing timely and accurate results, resolving families’ long search for answers. By combining clinical expertise of the world’s best pediatric specialists with innovative platform solutions, Claritas is working to improve patient care and enable new discoveries. For more information about Claritas Genomics, visit www.claritasgenomics.com. 

Contact: Betsy Stevenson, Director of Communications [email protected]
Tel: (860) 984-1424