The Rise of Genomic Medicine: Rick Leach at TEDxGrandRapids

Dr. Leach holds a B.S. degree in Biology from Hillsdale College, a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Ohio University, was a Fellow in the Division of Experimental Therapeutics at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for the US Department of Defense and was a visiting Fellow at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Following his postdoctoral work, Dr. Leach joined the groundbreaking biotechnology company, Affymetrix, and led the implementation of advanced molecular technologies in academic, government and industrial research labs. Dr. Leach founded the computational biology software company Teneo Sciences (now Sapio Sciences), and created artificial intelligence algorithms and visualization applications to analyze large genetic datasets. Joining with Shady Grove Center for Preimplantation Genetics and Integramed, Dr. Leach co-created advanced human embryo diagnostics for in vitro fertilization applications. Subsequent to this, he was the Vice President of Scientific Services for deCODE Genetics in Reykjavik, Iceland, while it was the world's largest and most productive genetics research company. Currently, Dr. Leach is the Vice President of Business Development for Complete Genomics, the first industrial-scale whole human genome sequencing company. Collaborating with thought leaders across the globe, his primary focus is to bring genome sequencing to clinical practice. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)