ProterixBio (formerly BioScale) appointed Dr. Fernando Martinez, MD, to its scientific and medical advisory board. The Massachusetts-based company says the addition of Martinez, a global clinical expert in pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and cystic fibrosis (CF), reflects its strategic focus on developing solutions designed to improve effectiveness and efficiency of care for patients suffering from serious pulmonary disorders.
In his role as a ProterixBio advisory board member, Martinez will assist the company with strategic advice regarding clinical research studies and development of future healthcare solutions.
ProterixBio’s initial product development pipeline will concentrate on treatments designed to transform management of COPD and IPF. These two chronic pulmonary diseases impact the productivity and quality of life of millions of individuals. COPD affects more than 12 million people in the U.S. alone and represents a significant portion of global healthcare spending.
Martinez is the latest of several leading research and clinical experts recruited by ProterixBio to serve as scientific and medical advisors and help the company with research and development initiatives in chronic pulmonary diseases. Executive vice chair of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, Martinez has been listed in “Best Doctors of America” every year since 2002, and is a premiere translational researcher in chronic lung disease.
Martinez has a longstanding interest in advanced lung disease, having participated in international guideline panels for COPD, IPF, lung transplants, and exercise testing, and has particular expertise in general pulmonary medicine, evaluation and management of COPD, interstitial lung diseases (including IPF), breathlessness, and cough.
He was a participant or co-director of the UM lung transplant, lung volume reduction surgery, and fibrosing lung disease destination programs, and is nationally and internationally recognized for his grant-funded seminal studies in the phenotypic and functional classification, and clinical interventions in COPD and interstitial lung disease.
Martinez has authored 326 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 36 review articles, and has mentored numerous trainees. Many of those he trained went on to establish successful independent research programs.
“ProterixBio is thrilled to have Dr. Martinez join our scientific and medical advisory board,” Grace E. Colon, PhD, president and CEO of ProterixBio, said in a press release. “His decades of leadership in the field and passion for our vision and mission will help us at a critical time as we soon reach feasibility stage for our first product for COPD disease management. He is a wonderful addition to our team of advisors, and my colleagues and I look forward to working with him in the future.”
Martinez said he is “honored and excited” to advise ProterixBio on diseases such as COPD and IPF.
“I look forward to collaborating with the company on clinical studies designed to better assess their disease,” he said. “A better evaluation of patients via molecular and traditional methods will ultimately benefit pulmonary patients through better management of their disease, fostering personalized care and, hopefully, improving outcomes and relieving burden on our patients.”