Sequence Bio, a Newfoundland and Labrador-based company studying the province’s unique genetic makeup, has announced a new Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
Chris Gardner, the company’s co-founder who took on the role of CEO last year, believes Dr. Kathy Hudson will bring her expertise in population geonomics and help in the advancement of therapeutic discovery.
“Dr. Kathy Hudson is a leading expert in large-scale biomedical research projects and understanding the scientific, ethical and social implications of this kind of transformational change in healthcare and drug discovery.” said Gardner. “Sequence Bio is committed to taking a participant-centric approach to research, and we are excited about the expertise Dr. Hudson will bring.”
Sequence Bio has a particular interest in a participant-centric approach to research that works to develop a data resource for drug discovery through a 100,000 person genome sequencing project. Its NL Genome project conducts research and development with a team of experts including Dr. Euan Ashley (Stanford) and Dr. Pek Lum (CEO of Capella Bio).
Hudson is the CEO of the People-Centered Research Foundation, which develops strategy to speed up clinical research. She has eight years of experience leading policy, legislation, and communication for the National Institutes of Health(NIH) and is the former deputy director of NIH. One of the many initiatives Hudson has worked on as a senior advisor is the NIH precision medicine initiative (All of Us), which explores how to treat patients and diseases based on their individual characteristics.
“Sequence Bio has a one-of-kind opportunity to create a unique resource and platform for the development of drugs to improve human health, all while engaging meaningfully with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Sequence Bio has a unique approach to participant engagement and is committed to returning benefits to participants and the province, making it a very exciting scientific opportunity. I look forward to offering my guidance and expertise in their globally significant initiatives,” said Hudson.
Photo via National Institutes of Health