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Robin Smith

Robin Y. Smith brings over 20 years of startup, science, and entrepreneurial experience to ORIG3N. In his previous roles as founder of three successful enterprises, Robin returned over 78% IRR to investors at two VC-backed companies.

As the global head of R&D for PerkinElmer, he managed teams as large as 500 people. Robin is a visionary and strategist who is passionate about building high-energy startup organizations. 1)

Bloomberg Profile 2) CEO/Co-Founder - Orig3n Inc - PRESENT -

Forner Global Head:R&D - Perkin Elmer Inc via ArtusLabs acquisition ArtusLabs, a business intelligence and data management company in Durham backed by Hatteras Venture Partners and Southern Capitol Ventures and acquired by PerkinElmer.

ArtusLabs, Inc.

References to ArtusLabs sale to Perkin Elmer are plentiful but executive info scarce. SEC filings show Robin Smith as an equity partner and Executive Director with Brian Bullard. 3)

Perkin Elmer Buys Artus

March 24, 2011

WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and the environment, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire CambridgeSoft Corporation, and has completed the purchase of ArtusLabs, Inc. These acquisitions will enhance the Company’s focus on knowledge management in laboratory settings by expanding its informatics and software offerings, enabling customers to rapidly access and share enterprise-wide data for faster, more informed scientific decisions.

ArtusLabs provides us with innovative technology enabling enhanced access to scientific knowledge, and is highly complementary to CambridgeSoft’s informatics solutions.”

He added, “These acquisitions combined with our existing offerings, particularly our OneSource® laboratory asset management services, make us uniquely qualified to enable highly efficient laboratory environments and increased scientific productivity.” 4)

Durham’s ArtusLabs sold to PerkinElmer - Triangle Business Journal by Monica Chen Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011

ArtusLabs, a business intelligence and data management company in Durham backed by Hatteras Venture Partners and Southern Capitol Ventures has been acquired by PerkinElmer. 5)

Interview with Robin Smith, CEO of ORIG3N

BioInformant.com by Cade Hildreth

Recently, I had the honor of interviewing Robin Smith, CEO of ORIG3N, a company which has created the world’s largest blood cell repository. ORIG3N is using these blood cells to produce patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), allowing the cells to be ever-renewing and giving rise to a living database of humanity known as LifeCapsule.

The company also has two other business segments, called LifeProfile and LifeSystems. In this interview, we explore the beginnings of ORIG3N, as well as its creation of the world’s largest blood cell repository, genetic testing business, and future trajectory as a company.

I have an unusual background and history. My father was in the Air Force, and I was born in Korea. My mother is Korean and my father is American, so every three years of my life I ended up moving to a new place and having to learn new things and meet new people. When you have that background, the life of an entrepreneur is not much different.

I sold my last company to PerkinElmer and thought that would kind of be it. It was a tremendous opportunity to drive large scale innovation with a storied American research firm. At that time, I was working at PerkinElmer and was heading up their R&D group, and then my father got diagnosed with lung cancer. Because I was in a military family, I grew up in a different socioeconomic class than I am now. Today, I live in Boston, run a biotech company, and live downtown. I have a different lifestyle than my family when I was growing up, who now live in eastern North Carolina. When I went down to spent time with my dad at the hospital, I felt like I had walked into 1940 or 1950. 6)

Orig3n 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test

EUA200068 - Trade/Device Name: Orig3n 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test

  • April 10, 2020
  • Robin Y. Smith,
  • President and Chief Executive Officer
  • Orig3n, Inc.
  • 27 Drydock Ave., 3rd Floor,
  • Boston, MA 02210 US
  • Re: EUA200068
  • Trade/Device Name: Orig3n 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test
  • Laboratory: Orig3n, Inc. Laboratory
  • Dated: March 25, 2020
  • Received: March 25, 2020

Dear Robin Smith: This letter is in response to your request that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) add your test as an authorized test to the March 31, 2020 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), pursuant to Section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) (21 U.S.C. §360bbb-3).

We have reviewed the EUA submission package and determined that your test meets the criteria for issuance under section 564© of the Act because your test is eligible for authorization under the March 31, 2020 EUA for Molecular-based Laboratory Developed Tests for Detection of Nucleic Acid from SARS-CoV-2 (Molecular LDT COVID-19 Authorized Test). As such, your test is hereby added to Appendix A1 as an authorized test.

Having concluded that the criteria for issuance of this authorization under Section 564© of the Act are met, I am adding this test to Appendix A as an authorized test, as described in the Scope of Authorization (Section II) and pursuant to the Conditions of Authorization (Section IV) of the attached letter of authorization2 for use by the authorized laboratory to detect SARS-CoV-2 in specimens collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider.

Accordingly, in addition to this letter, you will receive copies of the FDA Letter of Authorization and the authorized Healthcare Provider and Patient Fact Sheets that must be used in conjunction with your authorized test pursuant to the Conditions of Authorization (Section IV) of the Letter of Authorization.

Sincerely yours, Uwe Scherf, M.Sc., Ph.D. Director, Division of Microbiology Devices OHT7: Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health Office of Product Evaluation and Quality Center for Devices and Radiological Health 1 Appendix A 7)

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