Sequence Bio has named American scientist Kathy Hudson, who held a senior role at the National Institutes of Health during the Obama administration, as Chair of its Scientific Advisory Board.
The St. John’s company, which is researching the genetic traits of Newfoundlanders for drug research, said Tuesday that Hudson will offer expertise in population genomics projects. The company aims to improve the way new drugs are produced and create meaningful engagement with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hudson is the CEO of the People-Centered Research Foundation, which aims to accelerate clinical research for patients and providers. She previously spent eight years leading science policy, legislation, and communications and outreach efforts at the NIH during the presidency of Barack Obama.
Her duties included the NIH Precision Medicine Initiative, which intends to build a precision medicine cohort of 1 million Americans to research how to better treat diseases and patients based on their individual characteristics.
“Obama trusted her with his 1,000,000 Genome project,” said Sequence CEO Chris Gardner in a Facebook post. “Sequence Bio now trusts her with providing leadership and counsel as we tackle something equally ambitious.”
He added that he is “beyond honored to call Dr. Hudson a colleague and a friend.”
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In a statement, Gardner said Hudson is a leading expert in large-scale biomedical research projects and understanding the scientific, ethical and social implications of the work that Sequence Bio is carrying out.
Founded in 2013, Sequence works with partners to analyze vast sets of data from gene pools to get a deeper understanding of human biology and the treatment of diseases. The company aims to capitalize on Newfoundland’s genetic data. The island has a rare — possibly unique — genetic grouping of families that have lived on the island for generations and who have distinct genetic markers. Sequence has signed an agreement with Memorial University to use the university’s genetic databank.
Hudson will join fellow advisory board members Euan Ashley (Stanford University) and Pek Lum (CEO of Capella Bio) in helping guide Sequence Bio’s planned research and development with strategic advice and expert opinions.
“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,” said Hudson in the statement. “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.”
In August 2016, Silicon Valley venture capital firm Data Collective led a US$3 million (C$3.9 million) seed round of funding in Sequence Bio, calling the company’s work in health data “a globally significant opportunity.”
The other investors in the round were: Killick Capital, the St. John’s investment fund headed by Mark Dobbin; Venture Newfoundland and Labrador, which is managed by Pelorus Venture Capital; and Klister Credit Corp., an Ontario investment fund headed by John H. Phillips.
