• Executive Team
Premal Shah, PhD, Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Corporate Development

Premal S. Shah, PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Premal S. Shah, Ph.D. is Chief Executive Officer at Applied Proteomics, Inc. He is an experienced business development executive specializing in strategy, business and product development for healthcare companies. Prior to API, Dr. Shah was director of business development for Genomic Health, a leading personalized medicine company. He was responsible for leading many of the company’s strategic initiatives including partnerships and M&A; activities. Previous to Genomic Health, Dr. Shah was a management consultant at Booz & Company, advising top healthcare companies in strategic matters ranging from go-to-market strategies and international expansion to M&A.; Dr. Shah received his Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

Jeff Black Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Black

Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Black joined Applied Proteomics Inc., in September 2015, with nearly 25 years of experience in financial, operations management and advisory roles, including senior-level finance roles for six publicly-traded companies. Jeff joins API from AltheaDx, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company specializing in pharmacogenetic testing where he served as Chief Financial Officer. Jeff was a key member of the management team that grew the company from new product launch to $15 million in revenue in its first full year of commercialization. Prior to joining AltheaDx, Mr. Black served as Chief Financial Officer of Verenium Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed pioneer in the development and commercialization of high-performance enzymes for use in industrial processes. During his nine-year tenure at Verenium, Mr. Black played a leadership role in nearly $500 million of strategic, equity, and debt financing transactions, culminating in the sale of the company to BASF in 2013. Mr. Black’s prior experience includes serving as Executive Director of Accounting and Corporate Controller of Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and principal and interim Financial Executive of Regent Pacific Management Corporation, a financial advisory firm through which he served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller of Clarent Corporation and Vice President and Corporate Controller of Accelerated Networks, Inc. Mr. Black is a certified public accountant (inactive) and began his career with Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Black currently serves on the board of directors of Cellana, Inc., a privately-held algae bioproducts company.

Erwin Estigarribia, Vice President, Commercial Operations

Erwin V. Estigarribia

Vice President, Commercial Operations

Erwin V. Estigarribia is Vice President of Commercial Operations at Applied Proteomics, Inc. He is an Operations executive specializing in the commercialization of products in the Life Sciences industry. Prior to API, Erwin was Vice President of Operations a CardioDx, a leading cardiovascular gene expression diagnostic company. He was responsible for leading many of the company’s Operational aspects including Commercial Testing Laboratory, Information Technology, Software Development, Facilities, Purchasing, Logistics, Customer Service and Reimbursement Operations. Previous to CardioDx, Erwin held several positions in Operations, Manufacturing and Quality at Nugen Technologies, Geron Corporation, Novartis and Chiron Corporation. Erwin received a Bachelors in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering with honors from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia.

Robert Verfurth, Vice President, Sales

Robert Verfurth

Vice President, Sales

Robert Verfurth joined Applied Proteomics as Vice President, Sales in May 2015. He most recently was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Innovus Pharmaceuticals starting in February 2013. Mr. Verfurth was previously part of the marketing and sales team at Apricus Biosciences, a specialty pharmaceutical company. Prior to Apricus, until mid-2012, Mr. Verfurth was Vice President, US Sales-West for Becton Dickinson Diagnostics. Before that, he served as Vice President, US Sales and Support for the molecular diagnostic start-up GeneOhm Sciences beginning in 2005. GeneOhm Sciences was purchased by Becton Dickinson, after which Mr. Verfurth continued his sales leadership responsibilities in the molecular and infectious disease product areas. Prior to GeneOhm, Mr. Verfurth held a number of commercial roles covering 15 years of diagnostic clinical lab experience, including Vice President of Sales at both Prometheus Laboratories and Dianon Systems. Mr Verfurth served in the United States Air Force for six years after college earning the rank of Captain before moving into the medical business field. Mr. Verfurth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California..

Bruce E. Wilcox, PhD, Vice President, Laboratory Operations

Bruce E. Wilcox, PhD

Vice President, Laboratory Operations

Bruce E. Wilcox, Ph.D., is Vice President of Lab Operations and a Founding Scientist at Applied Proteomics, Inc. He is an analytical chemist by training with expertise in mass spectrometry. Prior to API, Dr. Wilcox designed ion optics for enhanced ion transmission, built a 12-channel time of flight mass spectrometer and worked on a wide range of application-based projects, including high throughput pharmaceutical analysis, protein characterization, biomarker discovery, petrochemical analysis, and space and military projects. He joined Applied Minds, Applied Proteomic’s parent company, in 2007, and built the successful biomarker discovery platform that is used by API today.