Ex-Cleveland Clinic Labs exec to lead Boston startup

The former head of Cleveland Clinic Laboratories has left to become the top executive at Boston-area molecular diagnostics firm PrimeraDx.

Dr. Matthew McManus takes over as CEO at PrimeraDx, which is developing products aimed at speeding up several medical tests. In addition to his title as “Head” of Cleveland Clinic Laboratories, McManus also worked as chief operating officer of the the Clinic’s Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute.

During his time with Cleveland Clinic, McManus expanded the medical center’s reference laboratory services and helped secure funding for construction of a major new laboratory facility, according to a statement from PrimeraDx. He’s the second leader of the proposed reference lab to leave the Clinic in less than a year.

Last month, the Clinic broke ground for a $75 million building to house the hospital’s Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute and Cleveland Clinic Laboratories.

McManus joined the Clinic in 2007 and has experience in consumer healthcare from previous employer Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to a speakers’ biography for Lab Leaders’ Summit 2010. He also has worked for management consultancy McKinsey & Co. and drugmaker Novartis.

McManus takes the reins from interim CEO Vincent Miles. Last September, PrimeraDx closed a $20 million Series C round of funding.