Meet the Team

Dr. Halim, a Fulbright Scholar, is an executive and internationally recognized key opinion leader with over three decades of experience in biomarker and precision medicine for drug development and standard patient management.

Dr. Halim is one of only four lab professionals in the US who are triple board certified in Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Chemistry, and Toxicology, and is licensed and recognized as a CLIA clinical lab director in all US 50 States including NY, NJ, FL, and TN across several specialties. He is one of only two persons worldwide accredited by the FDA as a third-party reviewer of the largest list of IVD 510K submissions in all classes of IVDs.

Dr. Halim led the biomarkers, translational research and precision medicine aspects in 150+ PI-PIII clinical trials belonging to 50 development programs in oncology, immune-oncology and other therapeutic areas. He has led 12 end-to-end registrable CDx programs as LDT or universal IVD; from rationale to regulatory submissions and implemented LDT-based patient selection in 30+ PI-PII exploratory trials. He oversaw the development and validation of hundreds of assays on different technologies and their applications in drug development and/or patient care and has championed two drug and several medical device approvals in the US and other countries.

Dr. Halim holds a Pharm D, two master’s degrees, a PhD in Cancer Molecular Biology, and two fellowships in cancer diagnostics and molecular pathology. He is world-class expert in drug and device regulations and guidelines in the US, EU, and other countries and has served as KOL on 25+ governmental and public expert panels and advisory boards in US, Canada & EU.

In addition, Dr. Halim has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, three book chapters, and a single-author reference book on biomarkers, precision medicine, and diagnostics in drug development. He has also served on over 20 CLSI committees to create clinical and laboratory guidelines, authoring 12 of those guidelines.

Dr. Halim is committed to transforming Wren into a “best-in-class” oncology IVD provider to clinical trials and standard of care.

Mark Kidd, Ph.D., DABCC, has dedicated his career to advancing molecular diagnostics in Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) and other cancer indications including prostate, pancreatic, colorectal, lung and melanoma. As the Scientific Director of Wren Laboratories, he brings over twenty years of experience in molecular and cancer biology. With credentials from the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in Molecular Diagnostics, Dr. Kidd ensures the highest standards of accuracy and reliability in molecular-based diagnostic testing with a focus on liquid biopsy. In addition to his role as Scientific Director, he serves as the CAP- and CLIA-certified laboratory director and technical consultant for Wren Laboratories.

Dr. Kidd’s research focuses on the biology of cancer, gene signaling and developing cell line and animal models for tumor development and progression. He has contributed to more than 20 clinical studies to validate different gene expression multiplex panels as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

Dr. Kidd has 233 peer-reviewed articles and reviews, and 41 book chapters and 3 books on the history of medicine. His work is marked by a commitment to advancing cancer biology and improving diagnostic methods. Dr. Kidd’s contributions have been instrumental in driving innovation and enhancing the quality of molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Srinivas V. Koduru is a leading cancer biologist with extensive expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, and biomarker development. As the Director of Transcriptomics at Wren Laboratories, he plays a pivotal role in advancing the field of precision medicine, focusing on the early detection of cancers and other diseases through cutting-edge molecular techniques. Dr. Koduru is deeply committed to improving patient outcomes by utilizing liquid biopsies, particularly from whole blood and saliva to develop highly accurate diagnostic tests.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Koduru has made groundbreaking advancements in cancer biology, with a specific focus on understanding the molecular signaling pathways that drive cancer progression. His work spans multiple cancer types, including breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and multiple myeloma, where he investigates the intricate mechanisms of disease onset and progression. He leverages next-generation sequencing (NGS) and RNA-based technologies to identify novel biomarkers that can be used for early detection, prognosis, and treatment monitoring.
Dr. Koduru's research has been widely recognized and published in several high-impact scientific journals, including Nature Medicine, JBC, Blood, and Science: Translational Medicine, highlighting his role as a thought leader in cancer biology. With over 17 years of research experience, he has authored more than 50 scientific publications and more than 80 peer-reviewed presentations at proceedings.

Areas of Expertise:
• Cancer Genomics: Utilizing NGS technologies to understand the genomic landscape of cancers.
• Transcriptomics: Development of RNA-based biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of diseases.
• Biomarker Discovery: Pioneering new ways to detect cancer and other diseases early, using non-invasive liquid biopsy methods.
• Molecular Signaling Pathways: Understanding the biological mechanisms that drive cancer growth and response to therapy.
• Personalized Medicine: Developing individualized treatment approaches based on molecular profiling.

Dr. Ignat Drozdov, MBChB, PhD is a clinician scientist with an interest in Artificial Intelligence and clinical decision support. His research is focused on the design, development, and validation of Artificial Intelligence algorithms across a broad spectrum of clinical applications, ranging from molecular diagnostics and theranostics to radiology.

Dr. Drozdov authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and reviews and has developed and commercialized FDA- and CE-cleared AI products for population health and clinical radiology. Ignat trained as a Medical Doctor and has a PhD in Computational Biology from King’s College London.

Melissa is a quality assurance leader with more than 20 years years of experience in different lab roles at big and small laboratories. In this role, she oversees the quality management system (QMS), ensuring compliance with CLIA, CAP, NYSDOH, ISO, and FDA regulations and guidelines. She also ensures that internal policies and processes meet the expectations of biopharma and medical device companies.

Melissa graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Physiological Biology and a minor in Psychology. She furthered her education at Quinnipiac University with a master’s in health science (MHS) in Laboratory Sciences and earned an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from Capella University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in health administration (DHA) at Capella University.

Melissa’s career includes roles such as laboratory medical technologist and technical supervisor in Microbiology, Virology, Parasitology, Chemistry, Immunology, and Hematology. She has also been a laboratory manager at a small community hospital, laboratory operations director at a large physician-owned laboratory, and quality manager at a large esoteric laboratory. Her extensive background and education make her a valuable asset to Wren Laboratories.

Tracy is an experienced clinical laboratory scientist, with over 20 years in different bench, managerial and operation roles at research and clinical laboratories, with the majority of her professional time was at AmeriPath Northeast . Tracy is overseeing all analytical and operational aspects at Wren and she coordinates staffing and daily workflow. Tracy ensures the implementation of all applicable laboratory standards to maintain the laboratory’s CLIA, CAP and NYSDOH certifications.

Tracy is certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and an active member of the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT). A graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Diagnostic Genetic Sciences Program, her professional interests have focused on cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in oncology. More recently, she has focused on liquid biopsy and PCR-based assays.

As a corporate administrator, Jennifer oversees back-office operations, coordinating with department heads to ensure resources support Wren’s mission. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Connecticut State University and a certificate in Leadership Fundamentals from Harvard Business School. She is passionate about creating positive, productive work environments.

With over 25 years of experience. SHRM-CP certified, Jennifer manages talent onboarding, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration, and HR policy development. Jennifer ensures Wren complies with employment laws and regulations while recommending best practices. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Jennifer believes a diverse workforce drives innovation and growth.