AspenBio Pharma Inc announces the initial members for its newly-formed Medical Advisory Board (MAB). The independent members of AspenBio’s MAB are recognized leading thinkers and innovators in the fields of surgery, emergency medicine and health research and policy, the disciplines most directly involved with diagnosing and treating appendicitis.

The board is chaired by the company’s chief operating officer and chief medical officer, Robert F. Caspari, MD. The initial members of AspenBio’s MAB consist of:
 

  • Robert F. Caspari, MD – COO / CMO, Advisory Board Chairman, joined AspenBio Pharma in February 2009 with more than 25 years of experience in drug and diagnostic product development and commercialization. He most recently served as CEO of Living Cell Technologies, a publicly traded biotech company focused on cellular therapy for Type I diabetes and neurological disorders.
  • David Flum, MD, MPH is a leading gastrointestinal surgeon and outcomes researcher at the University of Washington. He holds the rank of Professor in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health and serves as the Director of the Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE) at the University of Washington.
  • Douglas K. Owens, MD, MS is a general internist and a Professor of Medicine and of Health Research and Policy at Stanford University, where he directs the Program on Clinical Decision Making and Guideline Development at the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research (PCOR). Dr. Owens also directs the Stanford University-UCSF Evidence-Based Practice Center funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
  • David A. Talan, MD, FACEP, FIDSA is Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCLA School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and a member of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the American Society for Microbiology.
  • Steven E. Wolf, MD is the Bob and Betty Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn and Trauma Surgery, Vice Chairman for Research and Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). He serves as Chair for the Institutional Review Board UTHSCSA.

AspenBio has completed its pivotal clinical trial for AppyScore, the world first rapid diagnostic blood based test for appendicitis and is advancing towards anticipated 510(k) submission for FDA clearance of the test. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has also recently issued AspenBio’s patent directed to methods relating to its appendicitis diagnostic technology. The patent, No. 7,501,256, is entitled "Methods and Devices for Diagnosis of Appendicitis."

Dr. David Flum commented: "I have spent considerable time studying appendicitis and its current diagnosis protocols and outcomes and I firmly believe a rapid blood based test to assist in the diagnosis of appendicitis will be well received by emergency medicine physicians and surgeons. I am very excited to be working as part of the AspenBio team on the advancement of AppyScore."

Mr. Daryl Faulkner, CEO of AspenBio, said: "We are fortunate that Drs. Flum, Owens, Talan and Wolf have agreed to join Dr. Caspari on our Medical Advisory Board. The outstanding caliber of their expertise will bring tremendous clinical insight to the company which will help guide the development and commercialization of our novel appendicitis diagnostic test. We are also encouraged by their endorsement of the substantial medical need for better diagnostic tools for appendicitis and their commitment to our success."