MAVERIX ADDS JIM BRISTOW TO SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
SAN MATEO, CA - Sep 30, 2014 - Maverix Biomics Inc., a leading genomic analysis software company, today announced that Jim Bristow, M.D., Deputy of Science at the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI), has joined its Scientific Advisory Board. Composed of individuals with deep expertise in computational genomics, analytic tool development, and broad perspective on current and future applications of high throughput sequencing, the Maverix SAB was established to help advance development of its intuitive, easy-to-use platform. With it, life sciences researchers are able to quality check, analyze, visualize, explore, and manage biological sequence data with the confidence and alacrity of a professional bioinformatics team.
Dr. Bristow brings a unique perspective to the Maverix SAB because of the sheer amount of data flowing through JGI that extends far beyond the human genome, said Todd M. Lowe Ph.D., Maverix Biomics co-founder and University of California, Santa Cruz Professor of Biomolecular Engineering. He will be integral in helping assess the sequencing landscape moving forward and directly addressing the emerging informatics bottlenecks associated with the expanding breadth and depth of sequencing being conducted by researchers across the globe.
Im delighted to be part of the Scientific Advisory Board and work with a renowned group of individuals who will be involved in the key strategies and decisions that will help advance solutions in genome bioinformatics, said Dr. Bristow. This is an exciting time to be engaged in high-throughput sequencing, as these technologies are really just beginning to make a significant impact in both basic research and translational medicine. There are also tremendous opportunities to address a wider range of pathogenic and industrially important microbial genomes beyond human and traditional model species.
As DOE JGI Deputy of Science, Dr. Bristow is responsible for the development and implementation of the Community Science Program (CSP), which provides large-scale DNA sequencing and analysis for investigator-initiated projects of relevance to DOE missions in energy and environment. He also oversees the Plant, Fungal, Microbial and Metagenome science programs, as well as managing DOE JGIs activities as a user facility. Dr. Bristow received his medical degree from Harvard University, following which he was a member of the University of California, San Francisco faculty for more than 15 years, directing a molecular genetics research lab and working as a pediatric cardiologist. He has held leadership positions on several grant review boards and advisory committees for the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health and DOE. His research interests include the application of high-throughput sequencing to epigenetic regulation of gene expression and functional annotation of microbial genomes and metagenomes.
Other members of the Maverix SAB include Sean Eddy, PhD, group leader at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia Farm Research Campus; Ed Green, PhD, faculty member in the Biomolecular Engineering Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz; Lior Pachter, PhD, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Professor of Computational Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Professor of Mathematics and Molecular and Cellular Biology; and Thomas J. White, PhD, a leader in biotechnology research and development for more than 30 years, having served as a Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Celera Diagnostics, Cetus, and Roche Molecular Systems. http://www.maverixbio.com/about-us/#advisory.
About the Maverix Analytic Platform
Maverix Analytic Platform is a cloud-based solution designed for use directly by life sciences researchers who may not have software or bioinformatics expertise. It leverages proven open-source algorithms and applications developed at leading academic and research centers. After loading sequence data from any organism (human, animal, plant, or microbe), researchers are able to immediately perform analyses with reliable, scientifically vetted configurations, as cited in peer-reviewed journal publications. Visualization is provided through a variety of integrated graphical tools, including a private, secure version of the UCSC Genome Browser, the worlds most widely used genome browser.
About Maverix Biomics
Based in San Mateo, CA and backed by leading venture capital firms and Silicon Valley investors, Maverix Biomics, Inc. provides researchers with a cloud-based platform to manage, analyze, and visualize genomic data, build Communities of Discovery, and place their data in context with the latest public data from the full spectrum of life, including human, plant, animal, or microbial organisms. For more information, visit www.maverixbio.com.
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