Alimetrix

Leadership

Joel Peek, Ph.D.

CEO, President and founder of Alimetrix, Inc.

Dr. Peek's professional background as a molecular biologist spans nearly 30 years with a research focus in bacterial pathogenesis and immunology, vaccine development, and for the last 16 years; diagnostic assay design and manufacture. Throughout his career he has shown a steadfast dedication toward alleviating patient suffering and promoting wellness, in addition to stimulating positive change in the world of healthcare. Dr. Peek gained his doctoral training at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences, where he was the recipient of a National Research Service Award (NRSA) training fellowship and later as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford Medical School. He is an adjunct graduate faculty member at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the department of Biotechnology Science and Engineering. Dr. Peek also holds eleven issued patents in the areas of recombinant protein expression, vaccine development, and mucosal adjuvants.

Mark McQuain, MS., Ph.D.

Chief Technical Officer

Dr. McQuain helps direct development of Alimetrix’s array based clinical diagnostic platforms and their statistical validation. He also oversees Alimetrix’s laboratory information systems and the IT interface with patients and health care providers, all with the goal of delivering the tremendous information power of molecular diagnostics to patients and health care providers in a rapid and efficient manner. Mark holds a B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. His graduate work focused on small drop microfluidics associated with microarray printing technologies, and microfluidic technology to achieve rapid biomolecule interaction by chaotic mixing. Mark was a founding member of Microarrays Inc., a leading microarray technology company originally funded by Vanderbilt University to bring microarray technology to research and clinical applications. His work with Microarrays Inc. included development of MI’s microarray printing technologies and robotic platforms to conduct automated assays and analysis of nucleic acid and protein arrays. Mark directed MI’s assay development program for clients to commercialize bench-top assays into robust, commercially viable analysis platforms.

Carol Quinter M.Sc., Ph.D.

Laboratory Director of Clinical Services

Dr. Quinter's role is to bring years of clinical laboratory experience to our team and to provide leadership, guidance and oversight in the development and standardization of laboratory processes with an emphasis on quality and clinical relevance. In addition, she assists in providing leadership throughout the accreditation process. Prior to joining our team, Dr. Quinter spent 37 years at Kettering Health Network in Dayton, Ohio, serving in many leadership roles, including microbiology, molecular technology, clinical quality and infection, prevention and control. Under her leadership the laboratory quality program was integrated into the hospital quality program, setting standards for laboratory test algorithms which were evidence based, promoted best practice, and resulted in improved patient and financial outcomes. Using innovative approaches which included industry partnership, a robust molecular diagnostic program was implemented and resulted in several publications, presentations, and national recognition for excellence. Dr. Quinter received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree, from The Ohio State University. She completed her Ph.D. in the College of Medicine of Ohio State University in a unique program which included tenure in the Infectious Diseases Division, the clinical laboratory, as well as completion of a research program which examined the effect of antimicrobial therapy on the exacerbation of Bacteroides fragilis infection in an animal model.

Richard Spera, MD, FACP

Medical Director

Dr. Spera is responsible for the overall conduct of the laboratory. His focus is twofold: to support and educate customers regarding the diagnostic utility and appropriate utilization of our assays, and to assist the scientific development team in their quest for new tests which provide the most clinically relevant information possible to the ordering physician.

Dr. Spera received both his BS and MD degrees from Georgetown University. He was an intern and resident in Internal Medicine at North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College. He also completed his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at North Shore-Cornell in 1992. His research project studied the emergence of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci at a suburban university hospital and the characterization of the vancomycin resistance genotype. After an academic position at the Brooklyn Hospital Center-SUNY Downstate, he relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1998, where he is an Infectious Diseases practitioner. He has and continues to hold leadership positions at the hospitals at which he practices.

Jonas Boateng, Ph.D.

Director of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Dr. Boateng's responsibilities include the design, development and implementation of NGS clinical assays with a focus on targeted gene panels, 16S rRNA metagenomic profiling, and whole genomic sequencing. Dr. Boateng has in-depth knowledge and experience in the development and deployment of molecular assays. Prior to joining our team, he worked for Eurofins Genomics and played a pivotal role in the advancement and growth of their gene synthesis business unit. He also serves as a scientific advisor for the startup company GeneCapture. Dr. Boateng obtained his Ph.D. and M.Sc.Eng from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in Biotechnological Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering respectively. His dissertation was titled “Structured DNA probe microarrays for detection of acetotrophic methanogens in complex solutions”, and involved the use of a novel 16S rRNA based nucleic acid testing platform for the detection of microbes without PCR amplification. The technology was later used to launch the molecular diagnostic device company, GeneCapture.