Management Team
The GeneNews™ team draws on a combination of success and specialized knowledge in basic scientific research, clinical research and practice, business skills and management experience.
Heiner Dreismann, PhD, Lead Director and Interim CEO
Dr. Heiner Dreismann is Lead Director and Interim CEO for GeneNews and the former President and CEO of Roche Molecular Systems (RMS), a division of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and the company that pioneered molecular diagnostics in the clinical arena. Dr. Dreismann led the introduction of PCR-based tests in Europe as early as 1992 and witnessed first hand the industry growth over the last two decades. During his tenure as CEO, RMS annual sales doubled to US$ 1.0 billion and the portfolio of tests and hardware sales were greatly expanded. Prior to being appointed CEO, Dr. Dreismann held other senior positions within Roche Diagnostics in the areas of Global Business Development, Business Unit Manager for PCR and Microbiology, as well as R&D positions in microbiology and infectious diseases, and in manufacturing.
Dr. Dreismann earned a Master’s Degree in Biology and a PhD in Microbiology/Molecular Biology both from Westfaelische Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany. Dr. Dreismann joined the GeneNews Board of Directors in 2006 and currently holds positions as Lead Director and Chair of the Company’s Strategy Committee in addition to the interim CEO position.
Gailina J. Liew, LLB MBA - Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Liew is the Chief Operating Officer for GeneNews and a member of the Company’s Strategy Committee and executive team. She joined the Company in 2000 and was responsible for establishing the initial intellectual property strategy and organizational infrastructure for GeneNews. More recently, she has lead the commercialization effort for ColonSentry™ and is responsible for the execution of the company’s strategic vision. Ms. Liew is currently responsible for the general management and operations of GeneNews. Prior to GeneNews, Ms. Liew was Corporate Counsel for the Ontario Lead Investment Fund, a joint public-private venture capital fund.
Ms. Liew earned a B.Sc. degree in Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto, an LLB degree from the University of Western Ontario and a joint MBA degree from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and the Schulich School of Business, York University. She is a licensed member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and also acts as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for GeneNews.
Colin T. West, CA - Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. West joined GeneNews as Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer in 2007. He leads the finance, treasury and information technology functions for GeneNews and is a member of the executive management team. Prior to GeneNews, Mr. West was President, CEO and Director of the Richtree Market Restaurant companies and a senior partner in a major accounting firm until 1993. Currently, Mr. West is 1st Vice-Chair and member of the Board of Directors of DMF for Seniors and Chair of Better Living Health and Community Services.
Mr. West qualified as a chartered accountant in Québec following completion of his studies at McGill University in 1966. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
K. Wayne Marshall, MD PhD – Chief Clinical Scientist and Co-Founder
Dr. Wayne Marshall is a Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Scientist of GeneNews. From 2002 until May 2008, Dr. Marshall was President and CEO of the Company. He is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and a member of the Company’s Strategy Committee. Dr. Marshall has extensive clinical experience with osteoarthritis ranging from the earliest stages of cartilage injury and initial onset, to end-stage disease requiring joint replacement. Dr. Marshall has published over 100 basic research and clinical scientific papers and abstracts and has been a consultant to a number of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Dr. Marshalls’ "bedside-to-bench-to-bedside" expertise provides GeneNews with a unique perspective that bridges the gap between discovery research and the identification and development of clinically relevant, commercially viable products.
He is trained as an orthopaedic surgeon, knee sub-specialist and research scientist. Dr. Marshall received a B.Sc. from Michigan State University (1973), an M.D. from Wayne State University (1977), a Ph.D. in joint neurophysiology from the University of Toronto (1994), and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in 1984.
Choong-Chin Liew, PhD- Chief Scientist and Co-Founder
Dr. C.C. Liew, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, is a Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of GeneNews. He is also a member of the Company’s Strategy Committee. Dr. Liew is a pioneer in the emerging field of molecular medicine and recognized internationally as a leader in disease-specific genomics research. He leads the discovery research program at GeneNews and is the inventor of the Company’s award winning platform technology, the Sentinel Principle™. To date, he has published more than 300 original scientific papers, abstracts, and monographs. His 1997 landmark publication in Circulation, a pre-eminent American peer reviewed journal, reported his work in the cardiovascular system. This report is widely acknowledged to represent the most comprehensive analysis of genes expressed in a single human organ.
Dr. Liew was Visiting Professor of Medicine and Founding Director of the Cardiovascular Genome Unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and he has received more than a dozen Honorary Professorships at leading academic and medical institutions in China. Dr. Liew was also recognized with one of Malaysia's top awards, a Datukship (DMPN) which was conferred on him by the Governor of Penang in 2007. Dr. Liew earned his B.Sc. in Biology from Nanyang University (1960), and his M.A. in Physiology (1964) and Ph.D. in Pathological Chemistry from the University of Toronto (1967).