SAN DIEGO, Dec. 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biocept, Inc. (Nasdaq:BIOC), a molecular oncology diagnostics company specializing in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) biomarker analysis, today announced that Veena Singh, MD, FCAP, FCAMG has joined the Company as Senior Vice President and Senior Medical Director.
Dr. Singh brings to Biocept years of experience in the diagnostic laboratory industry, previously serving as Medical Director for bioTheranostics, a molecular oncology diagnostics company. During Dr. Singh's tenure at bioTheranostics, the clinical laboratory underwent a significant expansion in both the number and complexity of molecular diagnostic assays of solid tumors utilizing multiple methodologies and platforms including Next Generation Sequencing, RT-PCR and FISH. In addition, she brings a wealth of experience in the field of regulatory compliance issues (FDA, IVDMIA and Companion Diagnostics) and reimbursement.
Prior to bioTheranostics, Dr. Singh completed a Molecular Genetic Pathology fellowship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and an Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Singh is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology as well as Molecular Genetic Pathology.
"I am excited to join the Biocept team, as I have had a personal interest for quite some time in furthering progress with blood based biomarker testing – or, the liquid biopsy. There is a true unmet medical need for patients in situations where-in a surgical biopsy is not possible due to technical reasons or patient performance status issues that could result in a potentially adverse outcome. Molecular biomarker profiling performed on a simple blood draw affords prognostic information, as well as therapeutic and monitoring options," said Dr. Singh.
Michael W. Nall, President and CEO of Biocept, said, "Veena's experience in validating and launching assays in a CLIA lab setting, as well as knowledge of biomarkers under development in research and pharma, will be invaluable for us as we rapidly expand our diagnostic offerings. We are encouraged that our core technology and robust pipeline of tests continue to attract experienced industry leaders like Dr. Singh to our team at Biocept."
Dr. Singh received her medical degree from the University of Transkei in South Africa, her native country. She holds laboratory director licenses for CAP, CLIA and numerous states including New York.
About Biocept, Inc.
Biocept, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is a commercial stage oncology diagnostics company focused on providing information on patients' tumors to physicians using its proprietary technology platform to help improve individual patient treatment. Biocept has developed proprietary technology platforms for capture and analysis of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA utilizing a standard blood sample to provide physicians with important prognostic and predictive information to enhance individual treatment of their patients with cancer. Biocept currently offers its OncoCEE-BRTM test for breast cancer and OncoCEE-LUTM for lung cancer and plans to introduce additional biomarker tests for breast, lung, colorectal, prostate and other solid tumors based on its proprietary technology platforms.
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