Company Overview

Kapa Biosystems was founded in 2006 to develop next-generation molecular engineering technologies. Our directed evolution technology platform is currently being used to optimize enzymes for DNA amplification, next-gen sequencing, and molecular diagnostic applications.

The majority of biomedical and research applications were designed around a small subset of native enzymes. The limitations of these methods are often the result of constraints due to enzyme structure or function. Recent technological advances have allowed enzymes to be tailored to suit specific application requirements. Enzyme engineering not only improves existing methods but also provides the foundation on which entirely novel applications can be built.

Kapa conducts advanced protein engineering, taking advantage of recent developments in genomics, proteomics, and synthetic biology.

The Kapa Team

The Kapa Biosystems team combines a strong balance of scientific and commercial expertise. This breadth of management talent provides the skills required to build a sustainable business based on pioneering biotechnologies.

Our world-class team of scientists is lead by Chief Scientific Officer, Paul McEwan, who has over 10 years of experience developing breakthrough biochemistry and instrumentation in the field of high-throughput genomics including: inventing technologies and automation for the Human Genome Project at the Whitehead Institute Center for Genomic Research leading to the co-founding of genomics companies Agencourt Bioscience and Agencourt Personal Genomics.

At Kapa Biosystems our vision is to invent, engineer, and deliver biotechnology solutions that empower our customers to shape the present and future of life science.


Management

Ron McEwan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer:

Mr. McEwan has 35+ years of experience in the manufacture of synthetic organic chemicals. He has directed multiple manufacturing facilities with 500+ employees, with a combined annual turnover of $650 Million. Ron has held leadership positions in the USA, UK, Denmark and Belgium in the fields of manufacturing, logistics, sales, marketing, technical support and customer service.

Christopher McGuinness, Founder and Chief Operating Officer:

Mr. McGuinness spent much of his career as a project manager and entrepreneur in the field of telecommunications. Chris was a founder of ECHO, a broadband network engineering firm. ECHO was purchased by Keppel Communications in 2003.

Paul McEwan, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer:

Mr. McEwan has spent 10 years developing breakthrough biochemistry, instrumentation, and processes in the field of genomics. He has 1 granted and 3 pending patents in the areas of DNA purification and protein interaction technology. Paul has successful start-up experience as a founder of a rapidly growing, profitable life-science reagents and services company. From 2000 to 2005, Paul was a Founder and Co-Chief Scientific Officer of Agencourt Bioscience Corporation and Agencourt Personal Genomics.

John Foskett, Founder and Technical Director:

John has held a variety of academic research positions. As a graduate student in the departments of Environmental, Population, and Organismal Biology and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado, John studied evolutionary developmental biology at both the molecular genetic and cellular levels. John has been involved in several biology and technology-based business ventures including scientific software and telecommunications firms.