Rosetta Genomics Establishes Medical Advisory Board

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd. has announced the establishment of its Medical Advisory Board. Rosetta Genomics has assembled world-leading clinicians in the fields of oncology and women’s health, to advise the company on its microRNA-based program to develop laboratory tests to best address the issues facing oncologists and pathologists today. Some laboratory tests comprising Rosetta Genomics technology are expected to be launched in 2008.

“There is great unmet medical need for improved diagnostic and therapeutic tools within the medical community,” noted Prof. Moshe Hod, Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women at Rabin Medical Center and Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board.

“Rosetta Genomics has been a pioneering force in the microRNA field, and its diagnostic and therapeutic development programs may offer clinicians next-generation tools to assist patients. It is the Medical Advisory Board’s responsibility to advise the company to help focus its efforts on the most significant medical needs, where microRNAs can have the most impact,” Hod added.

"The diagnostics field has been lagging behind therapeutics in development, despite the tremendous importance of having objective and accurate diagnostic tools to identify patients’ conditions and manage their therapy," noted Harvey I. Pass, M.D. Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgery, Director of Surgical Research, and Division Chief for Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology for the NYU School of Medicine and Vice Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board.

"MicroRNAs have the potential to be highly specific and sensitive biomarkers, offering clinicians the opportunity to utilize these objective diagnostic tools to address the unmet need for standardization in cancer diagnostics and advance molecular diagnostics for a wide range of diseases," Prof. Pass said.

“We are very pleased to be joined by these esteemed clinicians,” said Amir Avniel, President and CEO of Rosetta Genomics.” I am sure their tremendous experience in the fields of cancer and women’s health will have an important contribution to the future of our microRNA-based development program.”

The Medical Advisory Board members are:

Prof. Moshe Hod – Chairman: Professor Moshe Hod is recognized as an international authority on women’s health and diabetes. He is currently Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women at the Rabin Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University in Israel.

Prof. Harvey I. Pass – Vice Chairman: Harvey I. Pass, MD is Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgery, Director of Surgical Research, and Division Chief for Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology for the NYU School of Medicine. Prof. Pass is internationally recognized as an expert in the multidisciplinary management of lung cancer, mesothelioma, esophageal cancer, and the management of pulmonary metastases.

Prof. David Sidransky, M.D: Dr. Sidransky is a renowned oncologist and research scientist named and profiled by TIME magazine in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. He is Professor of Oncology, Otolaryngology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at John Hopkins University and Hospital. Dr. Sidransky has written over 300 peer-reviewed publications, and has contributed more than 40 cancer reviews and chapters.