Thomas J. Goralski, Ph.D., to Lead Company's UltraVector® Division
Intrexon Corporation, a privately held life sciences company focused on modular DNA control systems, today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Goralski, Ph.D., as President of its UltraVector® Division and a Senior Vice President of the corporation. Dr. Goralski will be based at Intrexon's DNA production facility in Blacksburg, VA, which houses the company's UltraVector® manufacturing platform and extensive inventory of modular transgene frameworks and interchangeable genetic parts.
Dr. Goralski brings over 20 years of experience in genetic materials production to Intrexon Corporation, having been involved in operational leadership positions at Incyte Genomics, Perlegen Sciences, and most recently at Expression Analysis in Durham, NC. Dr. Goralski received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology from Indiana University, Bloomington and received postdoctoral training at Stanford University where he was an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow.
"My career has focused on two main themes," commented Goralski. "The first involves the translation of advanced genetic technologies into commercial-grade production systems. The second is my strong passion for continuous quality improvement. The inherent modularity of the UltraVector® platform represents an unparalleled opportunity for me to apply this operational experience to the rapidly growing need for transgene-based products across the life sciences industry." Goralski continues, "I am especially encouraged by how Intrexon's proprietary bioinformatic systems link modular biofunction output with the intricacies of DNA manufacturing. Their post-design processing algorithms are derived from an abundance of real world production experience and provide an excellent mechanism for ongoing improvement in yield and quality. I look forward to leading the UltraVector® Division as we scale its productive output of complex transgenes by orders of magnitude over the months and years ahead."
"I am highly impressed with Dr. Goralski's enduring focus on operational excellence," stated Randal J. Kirk, Intrexon's Chairman and CEO. "One of the most important challenges for a rapidly growing biotech company involves the concurrent scale-up of its core production systems. In the case of our UltraVector® Division, this entails taking an already unrivaled ability to produce complex transgenes and scaling it to an output level that others in the synthetic biology world are only discussing in the most futuristic and theoretical of terms. I very much look forward to having Dr. Goralski at the helm of our core production system and seeing the throughput and quality he will provide to our four commercial divisions."
About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation is a privately held life sciences company that employs modular DNA control systems to enhance capabilities, improve safety and lower cost in human therapeutics, protein production, industrial enzymes and ag/bio. The company's advanced transgene engineering platform enables a new level of biotech - combining breakthroughs in DNA control systems with corresponding advancements in modular transgene design, assembly and optimization. The company is currently using these advanced capabilities to undertake foremost challenges across the life sciences spectrum. More information about the company is available at www.DNA.com.
Contacts:
Intrexon Corporation
Robert Beech, 301-556-9812
rbeech@intrexon.com