MENLO PARK, Calif.– Strateos, Inc., a pioneer in the development of remote access laboratories and lab automation software for life science research, today announced that Jason Pontin, a partner at DCVC and the co-founder of the small-molecule oncology company Totus Medicines, has been appointed Chairman of its Board of Directors. The company has also announced key executive appointments that further expand and strengthen its leadership team and include life science industry veteran David Lynch, PhD, who has been named Chief Business Officer, and Allison Herd who joins Strateos as the company’s new Vice President of People.
Life science research is rapidly expanding, and research labs are often constrained by the limits of their existing technology and lab control infrastructure. To address this challenge, Strateos has built remote-control and remote access smart cloud labs so that scientists can more efficiently design, run, and analyze reproducible experiments across basic research and drug discovery workflows. Scientists can seamlessly toggle between these smart cloud labs and on-site facility control, advancing the digitization of laboratories via the industry’s only hybrid lab solution. Strateos cloud labs, which represent more than 14,000 square feet of laboratory space, 25 automation modules and 200-plus state-of-the-art research instruments, are tailored to the application needs of small-molecule and biologics drug discovery, cell and gene therapies and synthetic biology.
“Strateos is thinking deeply about how work gets done and has built technologies that enable scientists to expand what is possible not only when they are in the lab, but also beyond its walls. I am excited to work with the Strateos team to continue to build a culture of innovation and am committed to helping scientists make faster discoveries, no matter where they are,” said Pontin.
At DCVC, Pontin leads investments in deep tech and life sciences companies. Before joining DCVC, he was a senior partner and senior advisor at Flagship Pioneering where he worked with the enterprise’s therapeutics and agriculture companies. Pontin previously served as CEO and editor in chief of MIT Technology Review and editor of Red Herring magazine. At MIT, he founded MIT Solve, the Institute’s open innovation platform, which deploys capital and other resources toward solutions to grand challenges; chaired the MIT Enterprise Forum, the Institute’s global entrepreneurial community; and was senior advisor to MIT’s 16th President, Susan Hockfield.
“Jason’s expertise in building innovative organizations at the intersection of technology and the life sciences will be invaluable as we continue to deliver pioneering laboratory research solutions to our growing base of global users,” said Mark Fischer-Colbrie, Chief Executive Officer at Strateos. “We are also pleased that Jeff Finer, who has served as our Board Chair for the last three years during a transformational period for the company, will continue to bring his expertise in science, technology, and corporate strategy to Strateos as an independent board member.”
Prior to joining Strateos, David Lynch previously served as Vice President of Business Development at Premier Research, a leading clinical trial CRO, with a mandate to develop and implement commercial strategies and partnership engagement programs focused on biotech, specialty pharma, and device innovators. Prior to Premier Research, Lynch was the Vice President of Business Development with life sciences quality and regulatory consulting firm Maetrics. Lynch has also held senior marketing and business development roles at top organizations within the lab services and public health sectors. He received his BS in biology from Syracuse and his PhD in infectious diseases and microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.
Allison Herd joins Strateos with more than 20 years of HR management experience and will support the executive team by leading talent recruitment strategies that will drive growth to ensure organizational capabilities. Prior to Strateos, she was the Vice President of Human Resources for six years at VitalConnect, a medical device company. She has also held senior HR roles at Aerospike, Layered Technologies, and Barracuda Networks. Herd received her BS from San Jose State University and has a master’s in human resources management from Golden Gate University.
“Under David and Allison’s leadership, Strateos is poised to further expand our commercial and product R&D teams and successfully execute on our vision for the future of laboratory science,” added Fischer-Colbrie.
