24-Hour, Full-Genome Scans

[Editor’s note: We asked a group of Xconomists to answer the following question: “If you could patent one thing, what would it be?”]

A DNA sequencing technology that results in full genome scans in less than 24 hours. This would enable real-time profiling of cancer patients, which would be of tremendous value in determining the best treatment approach for an individual patient as well as, their likely response to certain therapies.

Author: N. Anthony Coles

N. Anthony Coles is the Chairman and CEO of Yumanity Therapeutics. Before that, he was the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors of Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Onyx, he was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors of NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Before joining NPS Pharmaceuticals in 2005, Dr. Coles was Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, which he joined in 2002. Beginning in 1996, he held a number of executive positions while at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, including Senior Vice President of Strategy and Policy; Senior Vice President of Marketing and Medical Affairs, Neuroscience/Infectious Diseases/Dermatology; Vice President, Western Area Sales Cardiovascular and Metabolic Business Unit for U.S.Primary Care; and Vice President, Cardiovascular Global Marketing. From 1992 until 1996, Dr. Coles also held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at Merck & Co., Inc, including Vice President of the Hypertension and Heart Failure Business Group. Dr. Coles completed his cardiology and internal medicine training at Massachusetts General Hospital and was a research fellow at Harvard Medical School. He earned an M.D. degree from Duke University, a master's degree in public health from Harvard University, and an undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Coles currently serves as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee for the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees and a trustee of Boston Medical Center. He is also a member of the board of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and FoldRx, Inc., a privately held biotech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts.