MENLO PARK, Calif., July 20, 2026
BillionToOne has appointed renowned physician-scientist Ethan Dmitrovsky, MD, as Chief Medical Officer, Oncology, to lead the medical strategy for its rapidly expanding Northstar liquid biopsy portfolio. The appointment represents a significant milestone in the company’s effort to strengthen the clinical adoption of its precision oncology diagnostics while accelerating its expansion into the minimal residual disease (MRD) testing market. Widely recognized as one of the most accomplished leaders in oncology research and translational medicine, Dr. Dmitrovsky brings decades of experience spanning academic medicine, clinical research, cancer therapeutics, and healthcare leadership. His appointment is expected to support BillionToOne’s strategy of advancing liquid biopsy technologies capable of guiding real-time treatment decisions for patients with solid tumors, further reinforcing the company’s position in the rapidly evolving molecular diagnostics landscape.
Veteran Oncology Leader Strengthens Precision Medicine Strategy
Dr. Dmitrovsky joins BillionToOne after serving as Laboratory Director and President of the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, where he oversaw one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations. His distinguished career also includes leadership positions as Provost and Executive Vice President at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. A graduate of Harvard University and Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Dmitrovsky completed his clinical training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute. Among his most notable scientific achievements was helping establish all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-based differentiation therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, research that ultimately contributed to FDA approval and transformed the treatment of the disease. His extensive experience translating laboratory discoveries into clinical practice aligns closely with BillionToOne’s mission to deliver advanced molecular diagnostics that improve patient outcomes.
Northstar Platform Expands Precision Oncology Capabilities
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Dmitrovsky will oversee the clinical and scientific strategy for BillionToOne’s Northstar portfolio, which includes Northstar Select, a highly sensitive liquid biopsy assay designed to identify actionable genomic alterations in advanced solid tumors, and Northstar Response, a tissue-free treatment monitoring assay capable of measuring tumor burden using single-molecule precision through a simple blood draw. According to the company, Northstar Select demonstrated the ability to identify more than 50% additional clinically actionable alterations compared with other commercially available liquid biopsy platforms while reducing inconclusive reports. The appointment also supports BillionToOne’s continued expansion into minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, one of the fastest-growing areas in precision oncology, where highly sensitive molecular diagnostics are increasingly being integrated into cancer treatment planning and disease monitoring.
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Strategic Appointment Supports Continued Innovation
The appointment of Dr. Dmitrovsky follows several recent product advancements, including the launches of Northstar PGx and Northstar Select CH, reflecting BillionToOne’s ongoing investment in expanding its precision diagnostics portfolio. The company’s proprietary Quantitative Counting Templates (QCT) molecular counting platform enables single-molecule DNA quantification, providing the foundation for highly sensitive genomic testing across oncology and other disease areas. As precision medicine continues transforming cancer care, leadership with extensive clinical, scientific, and regulatory expertise will be essential to accelerating adoption of innovative diagnostic technologies. By adding one of the nation’s most respected oncology physician-scientists to its executive leadership team, BillionToOne aims to further strengthen the clinical evidence supporting its Northstar platform while expanding its role in helping oncologists make more informed, personalized treatment decisions for patients with cancer.
Source: BillionToOne Press release
