Jue 24, 2020
Sera Prognostics, Inc., The Pregnancy Company™, focused on improving maternal and neonatal health through innovative precision biomarker approaches, today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Garite, M.D. as Vice President of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Garite will work closely with Sera to advance clinical development programs that support the company’s growth from development into a commercial-stage company.
Dr. Garite is a world-renowned and highly respected expert in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a recently retired Edward H. Quilligan Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Garite served 18 years as this Department’s Chairman, and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus. He is also the past Editor in Chief of the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynecology and remains Editor Emeritus.
He has published more than 200 articles and chapters including over 150 original peer-reviewed journal articles and is the author or co-author of five textbooks. His research has focused on intrapartum and antepartum fetal assessment through fetal heart rate monitoring, prematurity in general, premature rupture of membranes, the infectious etiology of prematurity, and the management of labor.
Until recently, Dr. Garite served as Director of Research and Education for Obstetrix, MedNax Medical Group where he directed the only ongoing Collaborative Clinical Research group composed of a consortium of private practices and university Maternal-Fetal medicine groups. Under his leadership, his team published 25 collaborative studies including 10 multicenter collaborative research trials all in high impact obstetric journals during his 18-year tenure with the company. He also currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer for Perigen Inc, a national patient safety company.
“Dr. Thomas Garite has tirelessly dedicated his professional energies to building impactful knowledge that has improved the practice of obstetrics,” said Gregory C. Critchfield, MD., MS, Chairman, and CEO. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Garite join the Sera team. He will provide critical leadership and support in advancing our clinical development efforts that are the basis of achieving Sera’s vision to improve the health of mothers and newborns and thereby improve the economics of health care delivery.”
“I am very pleased to take part in a vision that puts the well-being of mothers and newborns at the forefront, by conducting careful scientific and clinical research to address the challenges of prematurity and other conditions of pregnancy,” said Dr. Garite. “Preterm birth now exceeds 10% in the US and is a major cause of death and impairment of newborns. I look forward to providing my scientific experience and medical knowledge to help the company realize clinical and commercialization strategies that effectively address this serious healthcare crisis.”