The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University taps Harvard scientist Dr. Joshua LaBaer to head Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics

February 17, 2009

By hammersmith

[Source: Joe Caspermeyer, Biodesign Institute] – In a significant boost for an Arizona-based personalized medicine initiative, the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust are pleased to announce Joshua LaBaer, M.D., Ph.D., as director of the new Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics. Dr. LaBaer most recently served as director of the Harvard Institute of Proteomics.

Funded by a multimillion gift from Piper Trust, the Center for Personalized Diagnostics will pursue earlier, more accurate diagnosis of diseases including lung cancer and diabetes. It will leverage the latest capabilities in personalized medicine, an emerging field with potential to improve patient treatments and outcomes by factoring in an individual’s unique genetic and metabolic profile.

The Center occupies 8,000 sq. ft. within the Biodesign Institute. In addition to the recruitment of LaBaer, the Piper Trust’s philanthropic investment supports development of the research team and laboratory infrastructure such as a state-of-the-art robotic system for gene cloning.

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