Ms Olson is the former president and CEO of Adhesives Research, a $115 million multinational specialty chemical and drug delivery company.
In addition to holding an executive MBA from Loyola College, a BS in chemistry and a BS in medical technology from California Lutheran University, Ms Olson is currently completing her MS degree in biotechnology at Johns Hopkins University.
The company also announced that its scientific founder, Douglas Clark, will relinquish his role as CEO to become chief science officer (CSO). Dr Clark, who will retain his position as chairman of the board, is a national expert on cytopathology and tumor tissue-based biomarkers.
Kathleen Murphy, who is also a founding member of the company, will relinquish her role as CSO to become a member of the company’s scientific advisory committee.
Scott Allocco, president and a co-founder of BioMarker Strategies, said: Karen has been a valuable advisor to BioMarker Strategies as a board member and we welcome her leadership to direct the development our SnapPath system, negotiate strategic alliances and help us establish a dominant position in the field of tissue-based cancer diagnostics.