IMD Path Thinks Outside of the Box, Brings Strong Culture
By: Colorado BioScience Association Date: 09/25/2020
IMD Path is an Integrated Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory with enabling pathology and empowering oncology offering state-of-the-art technology and testing capabilities. With out of the box creative design, and a strong culture, IMD Path focuses on the individual contribution to the overall mission to delivery best in class, quality, and accurate testing.
CBSA President & CEO, Jennifer Jones Paton, asked Louis Tzoumbas, IMD Path’s Chief Commericial Officer, CBSA’s Key Questions for Life Sciences Innovators.
Q: Tell us about your company or organization.
A: Integrated Molecular Diagnostics Path (IMD Path) is a Molecular Diagnostics Company, enabling Community Based Pathology Groups by providing access to Molecular Technologies through our unique “Alpha Model”. This model features a unique operational alignment consisting of Regional Diagnostics Centers (RDC) supporting immediate diagnostic and screening needs of oncology patients. The nexus of IMD’s Alpha Model stands at Bioscience 1 at Fitzsimons Innovation Community. The Molecular Center of Excellence (MCE) is designed to support technologies redefining oncology care through genomic medicine. IMD’s creative design is meant to think outside of the box by integrating unique elements supporting cancer diagnostics into a cohesive operating unit.
Q: Describe your team culture. How does your culture shape what your company or organization produces or offers?
A: Our team strives to strictly ensure that every step in our process has the ability to support and avoid as much human error as possible. Our team’s devotion to deliver fast turn around time to best impact the care of each individual is a testament to our desire to help. We keep the patients needs top of mind and think of the patient behind every specimen.
Q: What are you working on right now?
A: Focused in Aurora (MCE), our technical development includes NGS platforms for both hematolymphoid and Solid Tumor Panels and testing procedures for our FDA-EUA approval for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay.
We are in the development process of our own proprietary information system called Integrated Path Systems (IPS). It supports our unique TC/PC model whereby IMD’s Technical Expertise (TC) can now be dynamically shared with our community-based pathologists for their professional diagnosis and consultative support to oncologists.
Q: How will your work save or change lives?
A: Our focus and mission is one of enablement by integrating community-based healthcare and oncology to improve the patient navigation experience. Our immediate proximity to University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus enhances our enablement capabilities. Our model understands and supports the unique value that academic medical centers have in cancer patients. Based on the complexities and progression of cancer care, patients can experience remission accompanied by tangible and improved quality of life, or ideally total remission. The collaboration between community-based hospitals with the academic medical centers is one that IMD readily supports.
Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your company or organization?
A: IMD Path is now approved SARS-CoV-2 q PCR (CDC assay). We are prepared to to support and offer this much needed testing to our Fitzsimmons Community, Aurora and Colorado. In April of 2020, IMD Path experienced first hand the impact of a COVID-19 positive staff member in our technical staff. The disruption in workflow and employee concerns that have to be addressed immediately are significant.
Q: CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem because we are #stongertogether. How has being an active participant in our life sciences community supported your success?
A: CBSA builds a collaborative, pro-innovation environment for life sciences in Colorado. This welcoming environment provided resources to IMD Path in its inception and helped us secure the necessary licensing to ensure compliance in testing medical samples. As IMD Path matures and expands, we look forward to see how we can use our distinct expertise and business model to actively pursue mutually aligned incentivized collaboration agreements.
Being located in the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, we look forward to working with all of our life sciences cohort organizations to empower each of our programs and stakeholders in a positive fashion.
Thank you to our sponsor: