Dr. Bruce Phelps (PHD) is currently Chief Technology Officer at Aviir, Inc., a proteomics company whose goal is to develop Personalized Medicine products that will quantitate circulating protein biomarkers.  The resulting protein profiles are correlated to active disease processes such as cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.  The company is currently in Series B and has secured over $30M of venture funding since its inception.  Aviir’s first test, a multi-protein signature assay for the diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), will be commercialized as a LDT in 2011. 

Prior to joining Aviir in 2006, Dr. Phelps was employed for 10 years by Chiron Corporation (now Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics), where he held the position of Vice President, Research & Development, in the Blood Testing Division.  As Divisional Vice President, he managed the Chiron R&D portfolios for the Ortho/Chiron Joint Venture, the Gen-Probe/Chiron Alliance and internal Blood Testing projects.  He was also responsible for the manufacturing/operations group of the Ortho/Chiron Joint Venture that produces the world’s supply of HCV recombinant antigens

Before joining Chiron, Dr. Phelps spent 13 years at Abbott Laboratories where he held various positions in Technical Product Development and R&D in the Physiologic Diagnostics and Hepatitis/Retrovirus Business Units of the Abbott Diagnostics Division.  He contributed to the development of over 20 diagnostic assays, as well as several instrument systems, including IMx, PRISM and AxSYM.

Before transitioning to industry, Dr. Phelps held a Senior Staff Fellow position at the NIMH, studying various aspects of the biochemistry of schizophrenia at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Phelps holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University, School of Medicine and a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Clarkson University.

Domain Expertise: Biotech, Medical Devices & Equipment

Investment Interest:  Biotech, Clean Tech, Healthcare Services, Lifestyle, Medical Devices & Equipment,  Nanotech