3billion Appoints Erik Zmuda to Lead U.S. Clinical Lab Buildout

“3billion Recruits U.S. Clinical Genomics Expert
to Lead Laboratory Buildout and Accreditation”

3billion Appoints Former Myriad Genetics Expert Erik Zmuda as Vice President, Accelerating U.S. Clinical Laboratory Buildout and Accreditation

■ Former Myriad Genetics leader with 500,000+ annual test experience
■ To lead 3billion US’s clinical laboratory in Austin, Texas
■ CLIA certification and CAP accreditation to support U.S. insurance market entry

SEOUL, South Korea — 3billion, an AI-powered rare disease diagnostics company, announced that Erik Zmuda, Ph.D., has joined 3billion US, the company’s U.S. entity, as Vice President of Clinical Genomics and Senior Laboratory Director. With the appointment, 3billion is accelerating the buildout and operation of its U.S. clinical laboratory in Austin, Texas, as it expands its rare disease diagnostics business in the United States.

Zmuda is an American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)-certified Clinical Molecular Geneticist with more than 15 years of experience in genomic diagnostics. He previously held clinical laboratory leadership roles at Myriad Genetics, a leading U.S. genetic testing company, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the United States, gaining extensive experience spanning genomic diagnostic laboratory establishment and large-scale laboratory operations.

At Myriad Genetics, Zmuda oversaw the operation of a CLIA-certified laboratory performing more than 500,000 prenatal genetic tests annually. He also improved testing efficiency by automating genetic variant interpretation and reporting workflows using AI. Earlier in his career, he conducted basic biomedical research at Regeneron Pharmaceutical and served as a technical lead for a biospecimen core facility supporting The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Zmuda will lead the buildout of 3billion US’s clinical laboratory in Austin, Texas, the company’s first clinical laboratory outside Korea. He will oversee the laboratory’s CLIA certification and CAP accreditation, as well as operations and quality management throughout the testing process, from specimen accessioning and sequencing to genetic variant analysis.

3billion plans to combine Zmuda’s expertise in high-volume laboratory workflow automation with its proprietary AI-powered genomic interpretation technology to reduce per-test diagnostic costs and maximize daily testing throughput. The company aims to set itself apart in the U.S. market through highly efficient laboratory operations.

The United States represents the world’s largest market for rare disease genetic testing, with more than 30 million people living with rare diseases and annual diagnostic demand estimated at more than one million tests.¹ With 3billion US’s clinical laboratory in Austin, Texas, serving as its local testing base, 3billion plans to establish U.S.-based testing capabilities, pursue phased entry into the insurance market, and expand its presence in rare disease diagnostics.

Changwon Keum, CEO of 3billion, said, “Dr. Zmuda is an expert who has led clinical genomic diagnostics and high-volume testing operations at U.S. genetic testing companies and medical institutions. With his experience and expertise in CLIA laboratory operations, we expect him to play an important role in strengthening our diagnostic capabilities in the United States and expanding our rare disease genetic diagnostics business.”

Erik Zmuda, Vice President at 3billion US, said, “I am pleased to join 3billion as the company continues to expand internationally with its AI-powered genetic diagnostics technology. I look forward to successfully establishing 3billion US’s clinical laboratory in Austin, Texas, obtaining the necessary certifications and accreditation, and expanding access to timely and efficient rare disease diagnostic services for more patients and healthcare professionals.

¹ Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “Rare Diseases at FDA.”