Astek Diagnostics Inc. has announced the appointment of Doug White as Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, a move that bolsters the company's executive team.
BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES, September 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Astek Diagnostics Inc. revealed today that Doug White has been named Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, enhancing the company's leadership as it pushes Jiddu™, its rapid UTI diagnostic platform, closer to FDA submission and commercial rollout.
"I look forward to collaborating with the board, investors, and Mustafa as we speed up the development and commercialization of a system that holds real promise for transforming the standard of care in UTI diagnosis and treatment," White commented.
White initially joined Astek as a strategic consultant in March 2026, where he quickly became a key driver in refining the company's financing approach, commercial strategy, and operational strengths. In his new role as Executive Chairman, he will work alongside founder and CEO Mustafa Al-Adhami, concentrating on governance, capital raising, and forging strategic alliances.
"Doug raised the bar for how we think, plan, and perform from day one," said Al-Adhami. "He's grown diagnostics businesses in precisely the markets we're targeting, and he pushes us to be better in every way. As we build the board to bring Jiddu to market, he's the Chair who already gets the mission and the momentum."
"Doug's expertise and extensive industry background have already made a significant impact on Astek's direction and execution. His proven success in diagnostics and his dedication to enhancing patient outcomes make him the perfect fit as we advance Jiddu toward commercialization," added Valentina Milanova, Managing Director.
About Doug White
With over three decades of experience in commercial and operational leadership roles across diagnostics and medical devices, White has held senior positions at Digene, Qiagen, BD Diagnostics, Bayer Diagnostics, PolyMedco, and Emergent BioSolutions. His accomplishments include spearheading the commercial growth of HPV-based cervical cancer screening in the U.S. and achieving a tenfold expansion of Emergent's Devices Business Unit, which included the acquisition and growth of Narcan® Nasal Spray.
About Astek Diagnostics
Astek's Jiddu™ platform aims to revolutionize UTI care by confirming bacterial infections and providing antibiotic susceptibility results within about an hour. The system, featuring a benchtop fluorometric analyzer and single-use microfluidic cartridges, is designed to eliminate the traditional one- to three-day wait associated with standard urine cultures.
Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD
Astek Diagnostics
mustafa@astekdx.com
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