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SC Launch Company KIYATEC Adds Physician/Scientist as Chief Medical Officer

Submitted by: Ashley Hannah on Nov 04, 2010 at 7:19 pm Tagged with: Knowlege-Based Economic Growth, Medical Device Companies Source: SCRA

GREENVILLE, SC – November 4, 2010 – SC Launch Company KIYATEC Inc., a life sciences company commercializing advanced three-dimensional (3D) cell culture plasticware and cell-based diagnostics, is pleased to welcome Howland “Hal” Crosswell, M.D. as the newest member of its senior management team. Crosswell, a board certified oncologist with research interests in metastatic solid tumors and rare leukemias, has significant experience in cell culture-based research.

Dr. Crosswell trained at the third largest oncology program at Emory University, where, as a Cure Childhood Cancer Fellow he developed in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo cancer models for investigating novel small molecular inhibitors in solid tumors. Since completing his fellowship, Dr. Crosswell has served as Principal Investigator on a number of clinical trials that focus on improving patient outcomes with metastatic or unresectable solid tumors using novel therapeutic approaches.

“As a clinician-scientist, I find KIYATEC’s 3D cell culture platform to be truly compelling”, commented new CMO Crosswell. “We have reached our maximum potential with traditional research and therapeutic approaches; KIYATEC’s technology may be a powerful driver in the needed paradigm shift toward efficient drug discovery and ‘smart’ medicine with the ultimate beneficiary being the patient.”

In August, the company commercially launched its KIYAKUBE™ 3D Cell Culture Plasticware positioned to become the universal standard for 3D cell culture, particularly due to its unique ability to accommodate segregated co-culture of any cell type on any scaffold or matrix material. The technology enables researchers to replicate the biological interactions of multiple organs or tissues in a more natural microenvironment. 3D cell culture has much higher fidelity to in vivo biology (i.e., whole, living organisms) when compared to traditional 2D “Petri dish” techniques.

“We were very impressed with Dr. Crosswell’s experience leveraging cell culture tools to better understand drug mechanisms and improve their pre-clinical testing, and his ability to translate these concepts into strategies for better patient outcomes,” said Matthew Gevaert, Ph.D., KIYATEC’s CEO. “The combination of his technical skill set and clinical insight create an incredible fit with our efforts in two key markets, drug discovery and personalized medicine.”

“SCRA and SC Launch are very pleased that Dr. Crosswell has joined KIYATEC,” said SCRA Bill Mahoney. “Dr. Crosswell is a sterling individual example of the type of expert Knowledge Economy jobs that SC Launch companies like KIYATEC are creating in South Carolina.”