Astek Diagnostics Welcomes Suzanne Lynn Groah, MD, MSPH as Chief Medical Officer to Lead Clinical Strategy and Drive Innovation
Baltimore, MD – November 21, 2024
Astek Diagnostics, a precision diagnostics company focused on rapid, point-of-care infection detection and antibiotic sensitivity testing, is excited to announce the appointment of Suzanne Lynn Groah, MD, MSPH as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Groah, with over 25 years of experience in urinary tract infection translational research and clinical innovation, will oversee Astek Diagnostics’ clinical strategy and guide the development of its Jiddu Platform to meet urgent healthcare needs.
Astek Diagnostics’ flagship product, the Jiddu Platform, offers a one-hour test for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), providing actionable results for treatment that include infection confirmation and antibiotic sensitivity. The platform is poised to revolutionize diagnostic processes by addressing urgent care needs in UTIs, with future applications for meningitis (CSF), surgical infections (wound effluent), and bacteremia (blood).
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Groah to the team at this transformative stage in our company’s journey,” said Dr. Al-Adhami, CEO of Astek Diagnostics. “Dr. Groah’s deep expertise and leadership in UTI translational research and clinical innovation align perfectly with our mission to revolutionize how various infections are diagnosed and treated. She has been a long-term supporter of our company, and my team is thrilled at the prospect of working even more closely with her.”
Q&A with Dr. Groah and Dr. Al-Adhami
Q1: How did Dr. Groah first get introduced to Astek Diagnostics?
Dr. Groah: “While focusing on the commercialization process to support my translational research goals, I attended a meeting between Dr. Al-Adhami and potential investors as an observer. It was there that I discovered the Jiddu platform, and I was immediately captivated by its potential to transform patient care—not only for my own patients but for many others. After the meeting, I shared my excitement with Dr. Al-Adhami, which led to a natural and organic collaboration.”
Dr. Al-Adhami: “Dr. Groah has been an unwavering supporter of our work since that initial call, playing a key role in raising awareness about its impact across MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (“MNRH”) and beyond. With the remarkable progress we’ve achieved in the second half of 2024 and her instrumental contributions as a company ambassador, we are thrilled to officially welcome her to the team. Her extensive experience will be invaluable in guiding us through FDA clearance and bringing our innovation to market.”
Q2: Why is Dr. Groah joining Astek Diagnostics at this time?
Dr. Groah: "It has become clear that our current UTI diagnostic approach, which informs treatment, is not only slow but also scientifically flawed. As a Rehabilitation Medicine physician-scientist working with patients particularly vulnerable to UTIs, I lack reliable point-of-care tools to guide clinical decision-making. Consequently, the standard practice often involves "guessing" which antibiotic to prescribe and waiting days for confirmation or to adjust the treatment. Astek's Jiddu platform has the potential to transform this process by removing the guesswork at the point of care, enabling earlier and more accurate antibiotic treatment. This not only accelerates patient recovery but also reduces unnecessary antibiotic exposure. The benefits extend beyond individual patients to broader societal gains, including lower healthcare costs and reduced antimicrobial resistance. I am joining Astek Diagnostics because I believe in its mission and in the technology’s potential to make a real difference in patient care, and I am excited to help accelerate its path to clinical adoption."
Dr. Al-Adhami: “Dr. Groah brings a unique skill set in designing, conducting and overseeing clinical trials and navigating regulatory pathways that will be critical as we move toward FDA clearance and commercialization.”
Q3: What are Dr. Groah’s main responsibilities as CMO?
Dr. Groah: “My role will be to lead clinical strategy, ensure the scientific rigor of our clinical trials, and support our efforts to bring the Jiddu Platform to market. I’ll be working closely with Astek Diagnostics’ clinical and R&D teams to ensure our products meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.”
Q4: What prior experience does Dr. Groah bring to Astek Diagnostics?
Dr. Groah: “I have been a clinician-scientist at MNRH since 2002, where I have designed and led five multi-project, federally funded research centers—two of which are ongoing—and secured over $23 million in research funding through multiple investigator-initiated projects. Over the past decade, my work has primarily focused on neurogenic bladder and urinary tract infections, spanning the full translational spectrum from basic science and animal studies to human clinical trials and commercialization. Alongside this research, I have overseen spinal cord injury and disease clinical programs and served in leadership roles, including as Past President of the American Spinal Injury Association. I am excited to bring my expertise to support Astek Diagnostics in achieving its goals.”
Q5: How will Dr. Groah's appointment impact Astek Diagnostics's strategic direction?
Dr. Al-Adhami: “Dr. Groah's expertise will be pivotal as we accelerate product development and deepen our engagement with healthcare providers and regulatory bodies. Her leadership will be key in establishing a strong clinical framework for our upcoming product launches. We are particularly excited to elevate our collaboration with MNRH, where we have already initiated our Alpha feasibility study in their clinical setting. Additionally, our clinical trials will be conducted at MNRH’s facilities, further solidifying this strategic partnership.”
About Dr. Groah
Dr. Groah is Director of the Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Rehabilitation and Recovery Program and Director of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, and Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Georgetown University. She served on the Board of Directors of the American Spinal Injury Association from 2010-2016, and from 2017 has served as an Officer of the organization. She has a subspecialty certification in SCI Medicine from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and was a writer for the SCI Subspecialty Examination from 2006-2015. Dr. Groah has had continual research funding since 2003, was the Project Director of two Rehabilitation Research and Training Center’s (RRTC) on Secondary Conditions after SCI (2003-2016), the National Capital SCI Model System (2006-2011), and is currently Project Director of the RRTC on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction and the National Capital Spinal Cord Injury Model System, both designated centers of excellence. She also has had funding by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and the Department of Defense. She is an Associate Editor of the advanced SCI text, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, published in 2019 and of the 4th edition, to be published in 2025, and served as the co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Topics in SCI Rehabilitation. She was Co-Chair of the PVA Consortium Guideline on Carbohydrate and Lipid Disorders after SCI and was an expert panel member for the PVA Consortium Guideline on Bladder Management. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles. After completing residency in PM&R at the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Groah completed two fellowships (Aging with SCI research and clinical Neurorehabilitation), both at Craig Hospital. She received her MSPH from the University of Colorado at the same time.
About Astek Diagnostics
Astek is a precision diagnostics company developing the Jiddu™ Platform to confirm bacterial infections and assess antibiotic sensitivity across multiple sample types: urine, CSF, would effluent, and blood. Astek has prioritized going to market in 2025 with a urine-based test which identifies urinary tract infections and antibiotic sensitivity in one hour. The company is part of the Y Combinator (S21) and has received support from Harvard University, NSF, FDA, BARDA, NIH and numerous VC funds and angel investors.
For more information, visit www.astekdx.com.
Media Contact:
Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD
Founder & CEO
Astek Diagnostics, Inc.
mustafa@astekdx.com
www.astekdx.com
