MIT/Harvard Broad Institute Scientist Joins Semprus Biosciences
Online, February 9, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Semprus BioSciences today announced the appointment of Roger Smith, Ph.D., as the company's new microbiology team leader. In this role, Dr. Smith will direct Semprus' team of microbiology researchers as they investigate antifouling surface-modified technologies on biofilm and bacterial adhesion.
Semprus BioSciences is a venture-funded biomedical company designing new tools for clinicians and patients to reduce the 56,000 annual U.S. deaths and $11.2 billion cost of infection- and thrombus-related complications1 that arise when vascular access products are implanted in the body. These products are components of the Semprus Platform, a single-surface modification designed to reduce the attachment of bacteria, fungus, platelets and blood proteins to an implanted medical device. The company spun out of the labs of biomedical researcher and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Robert Langer, Sc.D., in 2007.
Immediately prior to joining Semprus, Dr. Smith served as Research Scientist II, head of microbial genetics at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. While at the Institute, he managed a group of six scientists in creating genomic tools for functional analyses and antimicrobial screening.
Dr. Smith also served as a post-doctoral fellow with Dr. Stephen Lory at Harvard Medical School's Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Prior to this, he completed graduate research at the University of Rochester's Department of Microbiology and Immunology in Rochester, NY, where he studied under the tutelage of esteemed Pathogenic Microbiology expert Dr. Barbara Iglewski.
"As we begin the clinical development of our transformative Semprus Platform technology, Roger's impressive experience and leadership skills will be invaluable to Semprus BioSciences," said Chief Executive Officer David L. Lucchino. "We are delighted to have Roger on our team, and look forward to his many contributions."
Dr. Smith received a Ph.D. and M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from Rochester University, and a B.S. in Biology from Eastern University in Harrisonburg, VA.
About Semprus BioSciences
Semprus BioSciences is a venture-backed biomedical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our innovative, multi-faceted Semprus technology signifies a breakthrough in medical device technology. Our current focus is to develop a vascular access catheter with the first single surface modification that is designed to simultaneously reduce microbial adherence and thrombus accumulation over the life of the device. In December 2010, the company completed an $18 million Series B financing co-led by SR One, the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline, and Foundation Medical Partners (FMP), a national healthcare venture capital investment firm with a strategic relationship with Cleveland Clinic. Combined with previous financing rounds, Semprus has raised a total of $28.5 million in equity.
Visit http://www.semprusbio.com for additional information.
Semprus BioSciences won Frost & Sullivan's
"2010 North American Enabling Technology of the Year Award for Surface in Functionalization Technologies" for its
Semprus Platform in December 2010.
Semprus BioSciences was selected as one of
"50 Companies to Watch"
by Medical Devices & Diagnostics Industry magazine in June 2010.