For additional information, contact:
Melanie Bernds, (314) 587-1647
mbernds@danforthcenter.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NewLeaf Symbiotics Recruits Leading Bioinformatics Expert
Ag Biotech Company Sharpens Genomics Focus
ST. LOUIS, MO – May 20, 2015–NewLeaf Symbiotics, a company commercializing
plant health and nutrient technologies that utilize naturally occurring beneficial
bacteria, announced today the appointment of Kishore Nannapaneni Ph.D. as its
Bioinformatics Lead. Dr. Nannapaneni joins the company from Bayer Biologics where
he was a Bioinformatics Scientist. He will work at NewLeaf’s St. Louis facility in the Bio
Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center.
“We conducted an extensive national search to identify a candidate with the right mix
of skills combining genomics, computational biology, and bioinformatics experience,”
said Todd Mockler, NewLeaf’s Vice President of Genomics. “Kishore was our first
choice. Our ability to recruit top talent to NewLeaf reflects the value inherent in our
unique approach linking focused agricultural R&D and field trials to genomics on our
Prescriptive Biologics™ platform. Kishore has already contributed to development of
our knowledgebase.”
Dr. Nannapaneni earned his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at
the University of Iowa. Before joining Bayer Biologics he served as a Senior Research
Associate at Pioneer HI-Bred and is an Associate Editor of the American Journal of
Computational Biology. At NewLeaf Symbiotics he will lead the company’s
bioinformatics analysis and data integration program working closely with company
scientists, agronomists, and product and business development leads. Mockler added,
“Kishore rounds out a strong genomics and bioinformatics group at NewLeaf. We are
very happy to welcome him on board.”
Dr. Nannapaneni commented, “I was strongly drawn to the NewLeaf technology and
team. It is obvious that biological products have a strong future in agriculture, but you
need a good strategy to distinguish yourself from the field. NewLeaf is definitely
integrating both genomics and bioinformatics into the platform. There is a clear vision
of how biologic technologies can complement plant health and contribute to crop yield.
I feel that I can contribute a lot to this very dynamic company.”
About NewLeaf Symbiotics: NewLeaf Symbiotics is a non-GMO biotech company
that researches and commercializes beneficial plant bacteria, and is a leading player in
the rapidly growing agricultural biologicals space. In 2013 NewLeaf acquired
bioinformatics solutions leader Intuitive Genomics, and employs a focused genomics
approach to discovery and analysis of plant/microbe interactions. In Q-3, 2014, the
company raised its Series B financing of $17M and has recently tripled its R&D footprint
at BRDG Park in St Louis, Missouri. NewLeaf is expanding its team to 25 and expects
initial product sales in 2016. Visit NewLeaf Symbiotics at www.newleafsym.com.
About BRDG Park at the Danforth Center
Bio Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science
Center helps life science companies bridge research, resources and relationships to
achieve commercial success. In addition to providing world-class wet laboratories,
office space and a prominent incubator, BRDG Park’s location on the Danforth Center’s
campus facilitates access to the intellectual capital of top scientists, as well as to
greenhouses, growth chambers, microscopy and proteomics facilities and other vital
resources. Located in suburban St. Louis County, Missouri, BRDG Park is being
developed by Wexford Science +Technology LLC, a BioMed Realty Company, a
development company led by a seasoned team of real estate, finance and engineering
experts specializing in major university facilities and science research parks nationwide.
More information is available at www.BRDG-Park.com.
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