Our Team & Clinical Credibility
Clinical leadership with a shared focus on useful genomic answers
Nova brings together medical, scientific, and genetic-counselling expertise to support responsible testing, patient-specific interpretation, and clear communication with families and physicians.
CEO
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Daniel C. Siu, M.S., MBA
Daniel has more than 35 years of experience in genetics, including over a decade providing whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing clinical testing for neurodevelopmental and autism spectrum disorders across the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for underrepresented populations. His aim is to make high-complexity genetic testing affordable, with clear, clinically meaningful results.
Background Founded Rainbow Genomics in 2016, bringing clinical whole-genome sequencing to children and adults across Asia. Served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at NextCODE Health, a genomic software company spun out of deCODE Genetics & Amgen. Served as Managing Director at deCODE Genetics, helping expand its genetic research services internationally. Co-founded Axeq Technologies, which later combined with Macrogen to expand global DNA-sequencing services. Developed software used with the ABI 3700 Genetic Analyzer, a key platform in completing the Human Genome Project. Earned a B.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, and an MBA from San Francisco State University.
Physician ordered
Clinical testing begins with a qualified ordering clinician.
CMO
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Yasushi Okazaki, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Okazaki is a pioneer in the clinical use of whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing in Japan. He directs Juntendo University’s Intractable Disease Research Center and Center for Genomic Medicine, and leads Japan's nationwide diagnostic programs for mitochondrial diseases. His work spans pediatric and neonatal disorders, cancer genomics, and rare-disease diagnosis.
Background Director of the Intractable Disease Research Center and Center for Genomic Medicine at Juntendo University. Professor of Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Intractable Diseases at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine. Leads mitochondrial-disease genomic diagnosis and research programs across Japan. Team Leader of the Laboratory for Comprehensive Genomic Analysis at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences. Advanced clinical WES and WGS for pediatric, neonatal, rare-disease, and cancer care. Earned his M.D. from Okayama University Medical School and his Ph.D. from Osaka University Medical School.
Clinically interpreted
Results are evaluated with the patient’s phenotype and family history.
CA
CLINICAL ADVISOR
Head, Clinical Testing Ethics Committee
Wayne W. Grody, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Grody is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized leader in medical genetics, molecular diagnostics, and clinical genetic-testing standards. At UCLA, his work has combined patient care, laboratory medicine, genomic testing, research, and medical education. He has also helped develop national quality and ethical guidelines for DNA-based testing.
Background Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. Director, UCLA Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories and Clinical Genomics Center. Past President of the American College of Medical Genetics. Founding Chair of the VA Advisory Committee on Genomic Medicine. Received lifetime achievement, distinguished service, leadership, teaching, and named lectureship awards from major medical organizations. Served on the NIH–DOE Task Force on Genetic Testing. Helped develop national guidelines for cystic fibrosis and factor V Leiden genetic screening. Contributed to genetic-testing quality and ethical standards for organizations including the FDA, CDC, CAP, ACMG, ASHG, AMP, CLSI, and the Human Genome Project’s ELSI program. Earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship training at UCLA. Board-certified in pathology and medical genetics, with expertise spanning clinical, molecular, and biochemical genetics.
Evidence informed. Ethically guided.
Interpretation reflects current scientific evidence and ethical standards in pediatric genetic testing.
SA
SCEINTIFIC ADVISOR
Jeffrey Gulcher, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Gulcher is a physician-scientist and pioneer in population genomics, precision medicine, and the genetics of common and complex diseases. He co-founded deCODE Genetics in 1996 and served as Chief Scientific Officer, helping build one of the earliest large-scale platforms linking genomic, genealogical, and longitudinal health data. His work has contributed to major discoveries involving neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other common diseases.
Background Co-founded deCODE Genetics in 1996. Helped establish deCODE’s population-based approach to discovering genetic risk factors for common and complex diseases. Helped expand population-scale genomic analysis into clinical diagnostics, rare-disease interpretation, cancer genomics, and international precision-medicine programs. Contributed to landmark discoveries involving PDE4D and ALOX5AP in stroke and cardiovascular disease, TCF7L2 in type 2 diabetes, and the chromosome 9p21 myocardial-infarction risk locus. Contributed to the development of reporting standards for genetic risk-prediction studies. Has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Completed his neurology residency through the Harvard Longwood Neurology Training Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
SA
SCEINTIFIC ADVISOR
Nicholas Katsanis, Ph.D.
Dr. Nicholas Katsanis is an internationally recognized scientist known for advancing the understanding of ciliopathies, autism, and other rare and complex genetic disorders. He has also advanced the concept that genetic findings exist along a continuum and must be interpreted within the patient’s broader genetic and clinical context.
He is a Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) Investigator and a member of its Scientific Review Board. His research has examined how autism-associated genetic changes, including the 16p11.2 copy-number variant, affect neurodevelopment.
Background Founding Director of the Center for Human Disease Modeling at Duke University Former faculty member at Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, and Baylor College of Medicine SFARI Investigator and member of the SFARI Scientific Review Board Led research into genes underlying autism-associated 16p11.2 copy-number changes Led interdisciplinary teams and international collaborations in genome interpretation, disease modeling, and therapeutic development Published more than 350 scientific papers and holds 11 patents.
GC
GENETIC COUNSELING ADVISOR
Maggie Law, CGC, FHGSA., MMedSc., MGenCouns
Dual U.S. and Australia Board-Certified Genetic Counsellor
Ms. Law is dual-certified in genetic counselling in the United States and Australia. She has extensive experience counselling patients and families and interpreting complex genetic findings, with particular expertise in underrepresented populations.
Background Has more than ten years of experience in variant analysis, clinical interpretation and genetic counselling. Works with individuals and families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Specializes in interpreting complex or uncertain genetic findings in underrepresented populations, with multilingual, and culturally sensitive summaries. Translates complex findings, including uncertain variants, inherited cancer risks, carrier findings, and polygenic risk scores, into understandable information. Support the accurate, responsible, and ethical use of genomic interpretation and communication.
Clear, clinically meaningful genetic answers should be within every family’s reach
Parents want to understand genetic causes of conditions affecting their children, so they can make informed decisions, improve treatment, and achieve better outcomes.
But too few have access to reliable, clinically meaningful genomic testing, clear and simple reports, follow-up care from trusted health professionals, and without delays from insurance approval, all at a cost that feels truly within reach. We’re here to change that.
Our team has spent over a decade helping doctors and families gain access to credible genetic testing. We focus on offering genetic tests that are affordable, delivering results in a clear and meaningful way, and supporting families in using the information to take better care of their children and plan for the future.
About Us
Modal Nova stands for Genome Modality Innovations
It reflects our commitment to advancing precision health through the integration of genomic and clinical modalities to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes:
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Improving diagnosis by correlating detailed understanding of patient’s symptoms with genomic findings
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Delivering clinically meaningful variant interpretation, including situations with uncertain results - Variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS)
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Supporting care with actionable prognosis and surveillance recommendations
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Providing culturally-sensitive reports to patients from underrepresented populations
Our platform delivers clinically relevant reporting to primary care providers, with clear summaries and readings for parents and patients.
By bridging complex biological data with real-world clinical relevance, Nova aims to redefine how genomic medicine is delivered at scale.