management >>
Ashok Gowda, Ph.D. - Founder, President and CEO
Dr. Gowda has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of BioTex, Inc. since its inception in April 1997. His roles at the Company include those of inventor, scientist, and manager of technology development. Dr. Gowda has functioned as principal investigator on government and private foundation sponsored research projects to develop novel cutting edge medical technologies. Dr. Gowda currently leads NIH supported early stage efforts to develop improved laser delivery systems for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and focal cancerous tumors. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Gowda organizes collaboration between physicians, expert consultants, and BioTex personnel to ensure maximum effort toward successfully achieving research goals.
Dr. Gowda received his BE degree in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1991 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Bioengineering from Texas A&M University in 1998. Dr. Gowda's primary research interests are in the medical therapeutic device development with emphasis on laser-based thermal therapies.
Roger McNichols, Ph.D. - Vice President, Chief Scientist
Dr. McNichols serves as Vice-President and Chief Scientist for BioTex, Inc. and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of research and development at BioTex. Dr. McNichols has served as principal investigator on a number of NIH, JDRF, and DoD sponsored research projects including the $4.9M development of the Visualase™ image-guided therapy system, development of an implantable fluorescent polymer glucose sensor, exploration of polarization sensitive imaging for detection of aerosolized biological threats (weapons), and improvement in the effectiveness of laser tattoo removal.
Dr. McNichols has extensive experience in biomedical based optical sensor design and hands on development of optical sensors. Dr. McNichols recieved the Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio State University in 1992 and the Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1998. He has served as a lecturing faculty member in the Biomedical Engineering department at Texas A&M University and has a strong background in the life sciences including a year of formal training in medical school.
Gerard Coté, Ph.D., P.E. - Board of Directors
Dr. Coté is professor and department head of biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University. He received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with Honors in 1986 from Rochester Institute of Technology, the M.S. degree in 1987, and the Ph.D. in 1990, both in Bioengineering from the University of Connecticut. Following a five month postdoctoral study at the University of Connecticut he started as an assistant professor within the Biomedical Engineering Program at Texas A&M University in May of 1991. He was promoted to associate professor, with tenure (September 1, 1997). He is the graduate advisor for the Biomedical Engineering Program at Texas A&M. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.
Sohi Rastegar, Ph.D., P.E. - Board of Directors
Dr. Sohi Rastegar brings a wealth of experience to the company both from academic research and research management. He has a BS (Highest Honors) and an MS in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas. He has served as a faculty at Texas A&M University where he developed a nationally recognized research and academic program in biomedical lasers and optics. Since 1998, he has been Program Director at the National Science Foundation. His interests are in laser-tissue interaction for therapies, diagnosis, and sensing applications with a focus on optically-based and thermally-based therapeutic devices. He is professionally active in several professional societies including American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) where he is a member of the Bioengineering Executive Committee, the Optical Society of America (OSA), and the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). He is a fellow of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery.
research & development >>
Ralph Ballerstadt, Ph.D. - Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Ballerstadt joined BioTex, Inc. in 2002. He is a senior research scientist in the glucose sensor group, investigating various alternative semi-invasive biosensor concepts for long-term glucose monitoring in diabetics. Dr.Ballerstadt has acquired wide-ranging experience in this field while working in the lab led by Dr. Jerome Schultz at the University of Pittsburgh from 1995 to 2000, and at Motorola in Chicago, IL, from 2000 to 2002. Dr. Ballerstadt has published extensively in the field of glucose biosensors and is the inventor and co-inventor of several patents in the field of glucose sensing. He is currently principal investigator on a DoD supported early stage efforts to develop a novel sensing capsule for in-vivo glucose sensing.
Dr. Ballerstadt received his Diploma in Biology from Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany in 1992, and the Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology/Biophysics from the same institution in 1995. Dr. Ballerstadt's research interests are in the areas of biosensor and diagnostics development utilizing affinity binding protein/ligand complexation reactions.
George Jackson, Ph.D. - Research Scientist
George ("Bill") Jackson joined BioTex in 2002. Dr. Jackson received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Houston in 2006 where his research primarily focused on the development of novel nucleic acid diagnostics using both mass spectrometry and DNA microarrays. In previous employment he has been involved in the
development of a wide variety of chemical instrumentation and equipment including the International Space Station's Total Organic Carbon Analyzer, and a lightweight, man-portable fuel cell (receiving a U.S. Army SBIR Phase 2 award for Quality). Dr. Jackson received the B.S. in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1997 and the B.A. in spanish in 1998.
Dr. Jackson's overall goal at BioTex is to develop a portfolio of novel molecular biology technologies, diagnostic tools, and devices. He collaborates extensively with Dr. Ballerstadt in the development of new affinity sensors utilizing 'aptamers'. Dr. Jackson also collaborates with Professors George E. Fox and Richard Willson at nearby University of Houston on a variety of applications related to manipulation of ribosomal RNA in bacteria.
Matthew Fox - Engineering Manager
Matthew Fox joined BioTex in 1999 and recieved the Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering in 2001 from Texas A&M University. His primary responsibilities include machining, prototyping and conducting animal studies. Matthew has previously worked in the Cullen Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at the Texas Heart Institute.
Colton Evans - Senior Research Associate
Colton Evans received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Southwest Missouri State University. He joined BioTex in 2003. As a Senior Research Associate he is managing projects pertaining to the development of an implantable glucose sensor for Type I diabetics. His expertise is in developing, manufacturing, and testing sensors in vitro, and performing data analysis. He conducts in vivo experiments in small and large animal models. Colton Evans is coauthor of three peer-reviewed papers and coinventor of one pending patent application.
Christopher Quan - Patent Engineer
Chris Quan joined BioTex in 2007 as a patent engineer. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering in 2006 from the University of Rochester. He is responsible for managing and developing the intellectual property portfolio of BioTex. Prior to joining BioTex, Chris was a patent engineer and consultant at Discus Dental, and has several years of experience in patents and research and development. He is also coinventor on over 10 pending patent applications.
Charles Houssiere - Development Engineer
Charles Houssiere joined BioTex in 2007 as a development engineer. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering in 2003 from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University. His roles include design, research & development, machining, and prototyping for the current BioTex portfolio. Charles has four years experience in design and development of medical products from several medical device companies and over 4000 hours of solid modeling and CAD experience.
administration >>
Sarah Peacock
