Nova will lead the company’s strategy for enabling the oncology community to develop innovative products across the full spectrum of cancer management based on Illumina next-generation sequencing technologies. Dr. Rick Klausner, who has served as interim oncology leader since January 2014, will continue in his role as Illumina’s Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.
“Tina has worked at the forefront of personalized cancer diagnostics and is an excellent addition to Illumina’s leadership team given our commitment to working with the oncology community to transform the field,” said Jay Flatley, CEO of Illumina.
Previously, Nova co-founded the molecular diagnostics company Genoptix and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2000. She was a member of the Genoptix board of directors until Novartis AG acquired the company in 2011. Nova also co-founded Nanogen Inc., a provider of molecular diagnostic tests, where she was Chief Operating Officer and President from 1994 to 2000.
Prior to Nanogen, Nova was Chief Operating Officer of Selective Genetics, a biotechnology company, and also held research and management positions with Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Hybritech, a former subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company. She holds a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside.
“Illumina is extraordinarily fortunate to welcome Tina to the executive team to lead our oncology business,” added Dr. Klausner. “She brings both great experience as well as a visionary understanding of the critical and growing role of molecular analyses in the ongoing transformation of oncology.”