It all started with a preemie baby and a false-start on a wrong antibiotic.
The GeneCapture Story
When GeneCapture co-founder Dr. Krishnan Chittur’s daughter was born, a day that was filled with joy was turned upside down when their doctor spotted what appeared to be an upper respiratory infection or pneumonia - prompting a blood draw, a lab order, and as a precaution - a course of antibiotics to be given immediately until the lab results were back.
It was a nightmare: a sick baby, an unknown diagnosis, and an antibiotic being pumped into an immature immune system that could damage her long-term health.
Three days later, the lab reported that there was no pneumonia. Good news! but what about the three days of antibiotics – all because it took the lab that long to make the diagnosis.
To Krishnan, an engineering professor at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, it was shocking: there’s got to be a better way to diagnosis an infection. Really?....wait several days for a culture just like it was done at the end of World War I?
Years later, when Krishnan and his student team experimented with DNA probes they found a solution to that challenge – a fast way to find a genetic signature, and that led to the technology that started the company.
Commercializing the Idea
Krishnan could envision the technical milestones needed to develop an automated technology, but didn’t have the business experience to bring a product concept to market. Then he met Peggy Sammon - a local serial entrepreneur and advocate for health equality. Together they developed a business plan, won some early funding and joined the emerging campus at the new HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
After a few years of basic science, they were joined by Harvard biochemist Paula Millirons who knew how to design multiplexed molecular structures that would automate the protocol, resulting in The CAPTURE Platform (Confirm Active Pathogens Through Unamplified RNA Expression). Paula became Chief Scientist and began to build out the remarkable lab team around a new 1-hour direct from sample, multipathogen, multimatrix detection protocol. A few years later, Greg Thompson joined GeneCapture and brought his career of experience in product design and manufacturing engineering to the CAPTURE solution, and developed the resourceful instrument and cartridge engineering team.
GeneCapture Today
After several technical validations, the small GeneCapture team responded to a request from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to fill a serious capability gap – rapid infection detection in austere environments. The military needs were the same as the point of care vision for public health care and thus began the dual use and government/private investment to mature the technology for product commercialization.
The team has grown significantly as the technology has evolved and matured. There are now unique probes designed for over 40 pathogens along with a consumable cartridge and instrument in validation testing. The location at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has reaped many benefits including collaborating with several of the associate companies and research labs over the years.
Now, after years of scientific and engineering development, GeneCapture plans to submit their product to the FDA so this remarkable solution can benefit the tens of millions of people who need rapid detection of infections each year.
Our Leadership Team
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![Peggy Sammon, Founder & CEO]()
Peggy Sammon
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
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![Krishnan Chittur, PhD Co-Founder & CTO]()
Krishnan Chittur, PhD
CO-FOUNDER & CTO
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![Paula Millirons, Chief Scientist & PI]()
Paula Millirons
CHIEF SCIENTIST & PI
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![Greg Thompson, COO]()
Greg Thompson
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Our Advisors
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Fran White, MDC Assoc.
Regulatory
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Nate Ledeboer, PhD
Medical College of Wisconsin
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Trish Simner, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
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Chris Doern, PhD
Virginia Commonwealth University
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Andy Stewart
Dx Consultant Group
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Scott Powell
Dx Consultant Group
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Louise O’Keefe, PhD
UAH Clinic Director & College of Nursing
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Steve Smith, RADM US Navy (ret)
Director of Disaster Planning (SBA)
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Jim Kvach, PhD
Chief Scientist DIA, Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Services
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John Schmitt, US Army LTC (ret)
Director of AMIIC
“Invasive fungal infections are on the rise. Having access to a system that can rapidly identify fungal pathogens is invaluable for positive patient outcomes. This is a growing challenge for hospitals and clinics.”
- Louise O’Keefe, PhD., Associate Dean - Nursing, University of Alabama Huntsville