CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Signal Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGNL) (Signal or the Company), a commercial stage, molecular genetics diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer, today announced the appointment of Richard Bender, MD, FACP, as Chief Medical Officer, effective September 14, 2015. Dr. Bender will report to Samuel D. Riccitelli, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Samuel D. Riccitelli commented, "Dr. Bender has had a very impressive career in medical oncology and we are extremely excited to have him join Signal. He has significant experience in both laboratory diagnostics and drug development which will further enhance our senior management team as we work to expand our test menu and the services that we provide. We look forward to the contributions he will make in our efforts to help physicians make better-informed decisions in the treatment of their patients."
Dr. Bender has more than 30 years of experience in clinical oncology/hematology and medical diagnostics, authoring more than 75 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters during his career. Most recently, he held consulting roles with various companies, including serving as a long-term Medical Affairs Consultant for Quest Diagnostics. Previously, he held the role of Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Agendia, Inc. where he helped to develop advocacy, adoption and reimbursement of the company's breast cancer assays. Prior to that, Dr. Bender served as the Medical Director of Hematology/Oncology at Quest Diagnostics in San Juan Capistrano where he was responsible for development of new hematology/oncology tests, along with all regulatory submissions. In 2000, he joined Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D as their Senior Director/Strategic Development Leader in Medical Oncology/Hematology. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Medical Oncology/Hematology at Permanente Medical Group where he spent 20 years and helped to manage the second largest cancer center in California. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bender spent six years at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland where he served as both a Clinical Associate and Senior Investigator in the Medicine Branch.
Dr. Bender received his M.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles as a Regents Scholar and has a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
About Signal Genetics, Inc.
Signal Genetics, Inc., headquartered in Carlsbad, California, is a commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. Signal's mission is to develop, validate and deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable better patient-care decisions. Signal was founded in January 2010 and became the exclusive licensee in its licensed field to the renowned research on multiple myeloma performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in April 2010.
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