Chuck Magness
President
Chuck Magness is an Innovation Guild co-founder and Innovation Architect at Seattle Children’s. He is an experienced entrepreneur, researcher, and co-inventor on fifteen US patents.
Chuck is a product of lifelong learning and an advocate for leading-edge technology. He has often experienced the benefits of seeking expertise from diverse domains to solve significant challenges in innovation.
Chuck started in engineering with his BS, MS, and PhD at Lehigh University. There he developed laser-based visualization systems for aerodynamics research and then began an industrial research career.
In a serendipitous transition, Chuck began working on Human Genome Project DNA mapping software at Washington University in St. Louis, which led to Seattle and more DNA analysis. Chuck co-founded a spinout from the University of Washington which became Illumigen Biosciences.
At Illumigen, Chuck co-patented a method for efficiently identifying mutations in DNA sequence data and won SBIR support for developing an integrated bioinformatics platform to automate mutation identification. The Illumigen team used the platform to identify a novel drug target and in 2007 the company was sold to Cubist Pharmaceuticals (now Merck).
Chuck led another biotech, Kineta, during its early-stage pursuit of therapies for infectious diseases, autoimmunity and chronic pain. At Kineta, he ran corporate initiatives including fundraising, intellectual property, program in-licensing and collaborations, and administration of Kineta’s grant-funded research program.
During his 15+ years in biotech, Chuck was struck by the lack of priority that our nation places on improving health care for the most precious segment of our population – our kids. His mission at Seattle Children’s is to support clinical innovators and their projects aimed at improving pediatric healthcare. In his role, he works with the Intellectual Property Core and Innovation Team to expand pathways that advance their projects.
Chuck supports innovation collaborations through advisory positions with the University of Washington Engineering in Health program and the West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics.
Chuck is amazed by nature and so likes to explore the outdoors with his family and nurture the garden.
Chuck is a product of lifelong learning and an advocate for leading-edge technology. He has often experienced the benefits of seeking expertise from diverse domains to solve significant challenges in innovation.
Chuck started in engineering with his BS, MS, and PhD at Lehigh University. There he developed laser-based visualization systems for aerodynamics research and then began an industrial research career.
In a serendipitous transition, Chuck began working on Human Genome Project DNA mapping software at Washington University in St. Louis, which led to Seattle and more DNA analysis. Chuck co-founded a spinout from the University of Washington which became Illumigen Biosciences.
At Illumigen, Chuck co-patented a method for efficiently identifying mutations in DNA sequence data and won SBIR support for developing an integrated bioinformatics platform to automate mutation identification. The Illumigen team used the platform to identify a novel drug target and in 2007 the company was sold to Cubist Pharmaceuticals (now Merck).
Chuck led another biotech, Kineta, during its early-stage pursuit of therapies for infectious diseases, autoimmunity and chronic pain. At Kineta, he ran corporate initiatives including fundraising, intellectual property, program in-licensing and collaborations, and administration of Kineta’s grant-funded research program.
During his 15+ years in biotech, Chuck was struck by the lack of priority that our nation places on improving health care for the most precious segment of our population – our kids. His mission at Seattle Children’s is to support clinical innovators and their projects aimed at improving pediatric healthcare. In his role, he works with the Intellectual Property Core and Innovation Team to expand pathways that advance their projects.
Chuck supports innovation collaborations through advisory positions with the University of Washington Engineering in Health program and the West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics.
Chuck is amazed by nature and so likes to explore the outdoors with his family and nurture the garden.