Our Team
Leomics Associates, founded by Dr. Jorge Leon, serves companies worldwide, advising them in all elements of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine testing. From discovery to development to commercialization, Dr. Jorge Leon and Leomics Vice President Dawn Caruso track market needs, identify successful new products, and more. With our powerful network of industry experts, Dr. Leon and Dr. Caruso quickly enable their clients to reach their goals.
Leomics' principals and network of associates collaborate with clients, enriching and extending their internal business development, scientific, medical and marketing staffs. Dr. Jorge Leon and Leomics Associates offers a proven track record of successfully predicting industry developments and trends, which helps clients stay ahead of the competition, grow their customer base, and realize financial goals.
Principals: Dr. Jorge Leon and Dr. Dawn Caruso
Dr. Jorge Leon
Dr. Jorge Leon is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in molecular diagnostics. Dr. Leon holds a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from New York University, and completed his postdoctoral studies at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and Columbia University in NYC. Dr. Leon’s subsequent academic research focused on developing monoclonal antibody-based tumor marker assays and radio-immuno imaging devices, which are currently in wide use.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Jorge Leon transitioned into industry, playing an integral role in establishing and leading the molecular diagnostics laboratories at Quest Diagnostics. As Director of Molecular Diagnostics, Senior Director of Biotechnology Development, and Vice President of Applied Genomics, Dr. Leon spent twelve years developing Quest’s molecular diagnostics strategy, which is now the world’s largest molecular diagnostics service laboratory.
In 2003, Dr. Leon founded Leomics Associates, Inc. a consulting firm committed to helping develop molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine (pharmacogenomics) in the United States and globally. Dr. Jorge Leon and his experienced team specializes in identifying breakthrough opportunities and industry trends, and helps start-up businesses, academic centers and established companies successfully build and commercialize innovative business strategies, product pipelines, and test menus.
Dr. Dawn Caruso
Dr. Dawn Caruso, a partner and Vice President of Leomics Associates, has twenty years of experience in the Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Invitro-Diagnostics and Clinical Reference Laboratory industries, as well as a rich background in the scientific and business sectors of academia.
Dr. Caruso holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology and Physiology from the University of Minnesota, and her professional profile is very comprehensive. She began as an academic associate at the University of Minnesota and the Veterans Hospital Research Facility in Minnesota, where she focused on cancer research and renal filtration. Dr. Caruso then transitioned to industry, joining Solvay International’s vaccine division to lead monoclonal antibody production, quality assurance and licensing and technology transfer. She later worked with Diasorin, a Minnesota-based international IVD company, where she led product research and development, business growth initiatives, and FDA approval processes. In Dr. Caruso’s next role at Chemicon, a life sciences company, she created strategies for drug discovery. After Chemicon, she joined Quest Diagnostics, serving as Director of Biotechnology Development for Quest Diagnostics. In this position, she led process controlling efforts and key business development projects.
Her two decades of experience have offered Dr. Caruso a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to develop, evaluate, implement and commercialize a new product. She brings this rich skill set to Leomics Associates, where she and Dr. Jorge Leon guide clients to develop and utilize the molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine technologies that best suit their organizational needs.
Lead by Dr. Jorge Leon and Dr. Dawn Caruso, Leomics Associates offers tailored services in multiple areas, including:
Medicine: Dr. Leon and Dr. Caruso's staff of MDs specialize in Clinical Oncology, OB-GYN Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Psychiatry and Pharmacogenomics, Gastroenterology, Lipid Metabolism, Public Health, Fetal and Prenatal Genetics and OB-GYN.
Science: Dr. Jorge Leon and Dr. Caruso's staff of scientists possess expertise in Genomics, Proteomic, Bioinformatics, and Computer Sciences.
Clinical Trials, Regulatory, Quality and Reimbursement: Leomics offers expertise in these areas in partnership with Beaufort Advisors, as well as our own network of clinical collaboration sites in the United States, Europe and Latin America.
CLIA Laboratory Strategy and Implementation: With our associates, we offer expertise in establishing CLIA services within physician’s offices, mid-size hospital laboratories, and high throughput clinical service laboratories.
Cost Effectiveness Studies: Dr. Jorge Leon and Dr. Caruso's public health experts offer clinical economic analysis and cost-effectiveness studies for public health sites.