Target Now Complete Experts

Daniel Von Hoff, M.D., F.A.C.P.

Executive Director, Caris Life Sciences Clinical Research

Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., is currently physician in chief and director of translational research at TGen (Translational Genomics Research Institute) in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also chief scientific officer for US Oncology and for Scottsdale Healthcare’s Clinical Research Institute. He holds an appointment as clinical professor of medicine, University of Arizona, College of Medicine.

Dr. Von Hoff’s major interest is in the development of new anticancer agents, both in the clinic and in the laboratory. He and his colleagues were involved in the beginning of the development of many of the agents now in routine use, including: mitoxantrone, fludarabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, irinotecan, nelarabine, capecitabine, lapatinib and others. At present, he and his colleagues are concentrating on the development of molecularly targeted therapies particularly for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Von Hoff’s laboratory interests and contributions have been in the area of in vitro drug sensitivity testing to individualize treatment for the patient, mechanisms of gene amplification, particularly of extrachromosomal DNA, and understanding of and targeting telomere maintenance mechanisms. His laboratory work now concentrates on the discovery of new targets in pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Von Hoff has published more than 543 papers, 133 book chapters, and more than 956 abstracts.

Dr. Von Hoff was appointed to President Bush’s National Cancer Advisory Board in June 2004 – March 2010. Dr. Von Hoff is the past president of the American Association for Cancer Research (the world’s largest cancer research organization), a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member and past board member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a founder of ILEX™ Oncology, Inc. (acquired by Genzyme after Ilex had 2 agents, alemtuzumab and clofarabine approved for patients with leukemia). He is founder and the editor emeritus of Investigational New Drugs – The Journal of New Anticancer Agents; and, editor-in-chief of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. He is also proud to have been a mentor and teacher for multiple medical students, medical oncology fellows, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows. He is a co-founder of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop.

  • B.S., Carroll University, Waukesha, WI
  • M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
  • Internal Medicine Resident, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • Fellow, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
  • Professor, Department of Medicine and of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • Founding Director, Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (San Antonio)
  • Director, Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
David Loesch, M.D.

Director, Oncology, Clinical Trials and Services

Before coming to Caris, Dr. Loesch was a practicing medical oncologist with Central Indiana Cancer Centers (CICC) for over 18 years. In addition to his clinical practice with CICC, he was the primary investigator and scientific director of the Indiana Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization chartered by the hematologists and oncologists of Central Indiana Cancer Centers.

Dr. Loesch has made significant contributions in the area of breast cancer research and has served as co-chairman of the Breast Cancer Committees for the US Oncology (USO) Network and the Hoosier Oncology Group. In 2006, he was bestowed the Indiana Breast Cancer Alliance Medical Researcher ‘Excellence’ Award and in 2007 was named the Indiana Breast Cancer Researcher of the Year by the Indiana Breast Cancer Coalition.

He has had numerous abstracts accepted by the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) as well as being extensively published for his research on chemotherapy in breast cancer and for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. He is currently a member of ASCO and the American College of Physicians (ACP). He is a diplomate in both internal medicine and medical oncology.

 

  • B. Math, Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
  • M.D. University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN
  • Internship West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV
  • Resident, University of Iowa Affiliate Program at Methodist Medical Center and Des Moines
  • Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Des Moines, IA
  • Fellow, University of Texas Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, TX
  • Fellow, Medical Oncology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
George Poste, D.V.M., Ph.D, D.Sc., F.R.S.

Vice-Chairman

Dr. Poste is the vice-chairman of Caris Life Sciences™  and chief scientific advisor. In addition, he is chief scientist, Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative (CASI) at Arizona State University. He assumed this post in February 2009. This program links expertise across the university in research on synthetic biology, ubiquitous sensing and healthcare informatics for personalized medicine.

From 2003 to 2008 he founded the Biodesign Institute at ASU (www.biodesign.asu.edu/). In creating this Institute, Dr. Poste designed and built 400,000 sq. ft. of new facilities, achieved cumulative research funding of $225 million and recruited over 60 faculty, including three members of the National Academies of Science and Engineering.

In addition to his academic post he serves as chief executive of a consulting company, Health Technology Networks, which specializes in the application of genomic technologies and computing in healthcare. He is chairman of Orchid Biosciences, the leading company in DNA forensic analysis, and serves on the board of directors of Monsanto, Exelixis and Caris. From 1992 to 1999 he was chief science and technology officer and president, R&D of SmithKline Beecham (SB). During his tenure at SB he was associated with the successful registration of 31 drug, vaccine and diagnostic products. In 2004 he was named as ‘R&D Scientist of the Year’ by R&D Magazine and in 2006 he received the Einstein award from the Global Business Leadership Council.

He has published over 350 research papers and edited 14 books on pharmaceutical technologies and oncology. He has received honorary degrees in science, law and medicine for his research contributions and was honored in 1999 by HM Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the British Empire for his contributions to international security. He is a fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal College of Pathologists and the UK Academy of Medicine, a distinguished fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and a member of the Council for Foreign Relations. He is a member of the Defense Science Board and Health Board of the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the US Institute of Medicine Board on Global Health. He is chair of the DOD Task Force on Bioterrorism and the newly launched DOD Task Force on Synthetic Biology.

Click here to view video clips from Dr. Poste.

Raheela Ashfaq

Director of Oncologic Profiling

Raheela Ashfaq, M.D. joins Caris Diagnostics™ from her position at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as the Charles T. Ashworth Professor of Pathology, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Director of OncoDiagnostics tumor profiling laboratory. She has more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and lectures frequently at national and international conferences. Leveraging her 10 years of experience in image analysis and tumor profiling by IHC, FISH, and molecular techniques, Dr. Ashfaq is the Medical Director of Oncologic Pathology for Caris.

  • Professor Pathology and Gynecology, Director, Oncology Diagnostics UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
  • Director of Cytopathology Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas
Christine D. Kuslich, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Group Head, Research & Molecular Diagnostics

Dr. Kuslich joined the Caris Life Sciences™ scientific team in May of 2006 (formerly MPI), where she currently leads the Research and Development division of Caris as well as oversees the Molecular Diagnostic laboratory. Her division is focused on the development of noninvasive biomarker capture technologies to identify and predict diseases, like cancer, earlier in development. In addition, she and her team develop new molecular assays for Caris and the company's pharmaceutical partners. Prior to her position at Caris, Dr. Kuslich led efforts to develop prognostic bioinformatic algorithms to predict deleterious de novo mutations as well as directing a development team focused on a therapeutic breast cancer vaccine at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University.

Dr. Kuslich served in leadership roles in clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories in Washington and Hawaii where she was responsible for developing and overseeing numerous proprietary clinical assays. Over the years her research has focused on a diverse array of disease-related issues including: epigenetic modification, imprinting, and the development of novel fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques in Hawaii. At the University of Washington her research concentrated on complex mRNA splicing mechanics including describing the process of ordered intron removal and its influence on disease severity.

Richard H. Lash, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer and Group Head, Medical Practice

Dr. Lash joined Caris Diagnostics™ (a division of Caris Life Sciences™) in August of 2006, and has over 25 years of experience in GI and surgical pathology. Prior to joining Caris, Dr. Lash served as co-director of the AmeriPath Institute of Gastrointestinal Pathology and Digestive Disease, as well as clinical associate professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently clinical associate professor of pathology at University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center. He earned his bachelor of science degree, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, at the University of Michigan, where he received his M.D. degree and membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society in his third year. He was a resident and clinical associate at the Cleveland Clinic, where he received subspecialty training in GI pathology.

Dr. Lash continues to pursue academic interests, including publishing research and book chapters and training of residents and fellows. Dr. Lash is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and is a member of American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), Roger C. Haggitt Gastrointestinal Pathology Society (USCAP), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and College of American Pathologists (CAP).

Pushpa Gupta, M.D.

Oncologic Pathologist

Dr. Gupta served as laboratory director and pathologist for both CIGNA Health Diagnostic Labs in Phoenix and Northwest General Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) as well as the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).

  • S.N., Medical College, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
  • Resident, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH
Curtis A. Johnston, M.D.

Oncologic Pathologist

Dr. Johnston most recently served as laboratory director and pathologist at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, CT. Prior to this, he served as a pathologist at Franklin Square Hospital and Church Hospital, Baltimore, MD, and as assistant professor of pathology, University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, MD. He is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and cytopathology and is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists and a member of the USCAP and ASCP.

  • B.S., Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven CT
  • M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Resident and Chief Resident, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, University of Maryland Hospital
Wen-Hsiang Wen, M.D., Ph.D.

Molecular Oncologic Pathologist

Dr. Wen’s prior work in molecular pathology has included studies of p53 and HER2 in breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. He has authored a number of peer-reviewed articles and chapters describing these studies. His more recent work has focused on molecular genetic clinical assay development in hematopathology, solid-tumor oncology, inherited and infectious diseases.

  • M.D., Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • Ph.D., Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • Research Associate, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA
  • Resident, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
  • Fellow, Molecular Genetic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Marilyn Owens, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Senior Vice President, Operations

Dr. Owens is responsible for laboratory development and operations. Throughout her 35 year career in the laboratory industry, she has established and managed 13 laboratories over a broad range of scientific specialties (including anatomic pathology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, FISH, and molecular pathology) and integrated four acquisitions. She has taught business strategy and laboratory applications in oncology and infectious disease at the graduate level.

Dr. Owens was previously senior vice president of laboratory and operations at IMPATH and vice president of technology and development at Genzyme Genetics after the acquisition of IMPATH. As a founding member of the Nichols Institute, Dr. Owens established 10 esoteric testing laboratories, and also served in various leadership roles at Chiron Vaccines and Therapeutics (Now Novartis), Cytometry Associates (Estoerix, LabCorp), and in a variety of consulting engagements with hospital and reference laboratories and in vitro diagnostics companies.

  • B.S., Microbiology, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
  • M.S., Microbiology, California State University, Long Beach
  • Ph.D., Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
  • M.B.A., Strategy and Management, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Wendy L. Flejter, Ph.D., FACMG

Director, Genetics, Hematopathology Services

Dr. Flejter has over 25 years of clinical experience in genetics and molecular diagnostics and is board certified in Clinical Cytogenetics, and a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG.) She most recently was the vice president of laboratory operations for Artemis Health, Inc. Previously she served as the executive director of cytogenetics for Esoterix Oncology, Inc. and LabCorp, as well director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory for Dianon Systems, Inc.

  • B.S., General Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
  • M.S., Human Physiology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
  • Ph.D., Human Genetics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
  • Fellow, Research Associate, Genetics, University of Michigan Human Genome Center, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Assistant Professor, Co-Director Cytogenetics & Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratories, Department of Pediatrics/Section on Medical Genetics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
  • Assistant Professor, Assistant Director Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics/Division of Medical Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Assistant Medical Director Cytogenetics Laboratory, Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP), Salt Lake City, UT
  • Assistant Director, Molecular Cytogenetics Core Imaging Facility, Eccles Institute for Human Genetics and the Huntsman Cancer Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Matthew J. McGinniss, Ph.D., F.A.C.M.G

Director, Molecular Diagnostics

Dr. McGinniss joined Caris with synergistic experience in laboratory operations, assay development and validation, quality improvement and assurance, and resource management.

Previously, he was the executive director for Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. in San Diego, CA. He also served as part-time laboratory director of Molecular Genetics at the University of California San Diego Division of Medical Genetics after leaving Quest Diagnostics as senior director of Molecular Genetics. Prior to this he spent three years at Sequenom in San Diego and was also the principal molecular geneticist at the Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Dr. McGinniss is a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) in Molecular Diagnostics as well as American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) in Clinical Molecular Genetics. He is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and is a member of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP), the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA), and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

  • B.A., Zoology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
  • M.S., Zoology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
  • Ph.D., Cell Biology (Genetics), University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University Medical School, Baltimore, MD
Michael J. Guidotti

Senior Vice President, Group Head, Caris Life Sciences Oncology

Mr. Guidotti is responsible for providing executive leadership for the Caris Life Sciences™  Oncology Franchise, as senior vice president, group head, Caris Oncology. His responsibility spans the Target Now molecular profiling franchise as well as the hematopathology business segments. Mr. Guidotti previously served Caris in several capacities since joining the organization in 2005 as senior vice president, strategic development and subsequently acquired responsibility for leading the Caris Marketing, Product Development and Corporate Alliances teams.

Mr. Guidotti assumed responsibility for the Caris MPI Pharmaceutical Services division in the spring of 2008 and charged with leveraging the organization’s translational medicine expertise to drive custom biomarker discovery and assay development, in partnership with industry, to facilitate companion diagnostic development and commercialization.

Mr. Guidotti brings 28 years of healthcare industry experience to Caris. Previously he served as senior vice president, Manufacturer Contracting, Client Support and Strategic Alliances at Caremark Rx, Inc. and Advance PCS. Mr. Guidotti began his career with Bristol-Myers Squibb enjoying 19 years of progressive advancement through senior positions in Field Sales Management, National Accounts Management, Marketing Operations and Managed Care.