The name Leroy Hood may ring a bell to some (or most); Dr. Hood is considered among the uber-distinguished handful of architects of the molecular biotechnology revolution based upon his co-development of DNA and protein synthesis and sequencing technologies. These breakthrough contributions catalyzed the foundation of an industrial revolution, in addition Dr. Hood played a critical role in founding or co-founding north of a dozen companies, some of which included Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), Applied Biosystems, now Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE), and SyStemix, acquired by Novartis (NYSE: NVS).

Now at 71 years young Dr. Hood is back at with the co-founding of Seattle, WA-based Integrated Diagnostics, an “integrated” systems biology approach molecular diagnostics company. The Company is focused on protein blood markers that reports on the physiological state of most of the body’s major organs via the incorporation of genomic and proteomic techniques which identify proteins that are only synthesized in the organ of interest – the then identification of subtle changes that result from disease or treatment are believed to be observable. By monitoring concentrations of these proteins in the blood, disruptions in healthy function can be detected and traced back to the diseased organ. This work is based on the concept of a systems view of disease where pathophysiology arises from disease-perturbed networks of proteins, genes, and other molecules.

These Integrated Diagnostics protein panels are believed applicable to many diagnostic modalities including early detection of disease, stratification of disease types, and monitoring of disease progression and recurrence; or as Dr. Hood has referred to the approach as enabling Predictive, Preventive, Personalized and Participatory elements.

The Company announced the close of a $30M Series A financing however, if you take a look at the Form D filing [HERE] you will observe that a tranche of $7.5M closed. Participating investors announced include InterWest Partners, the Wellcome Trust and dievini Hopp BioTech.