Peter Friebe, PhD

SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS & COMMERCIAL ENABLEMENT LEADER

San Francisco, California, United States

About

Scientific communicator and biotechnology leader with 15+ years of experience translating complex genomic, molecular, and diagnostic science into clear, credible, and actionable outputs. Proven ability to lead scientific and technical content development in regulated healthcare environments, built on direct, hands-on leadership in molecular assay development and close collaboration with research, clinical, regulatory, and commercial teams. Experienced in developing high-impact scientific documentation and educational materials - spanning technical documentation, clinical and regulatory content, and external-facing communications - grounded in hands-on leadership of molecular IVD assay development and validation within FDA- and IVDR-regulated environments, enabling informed clinical decision-making and supporting adoption of diagnostic and clinical solutions. Demonstrated ability to operate at the interface of assay development and scientific communication, partnering with subject matter experts, rapidly mastering emerging technologies, and delivering high-quality content across formats and audiences.

Experience

  • Author at Self-employed
    Aug 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    Currently working on my debut novel.

  • Senior Manager, Clinical Applications and Marketing Support at Thermo Fisher Scientific
    Nov 2020 - Aug 2023 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Directed development, review, and delivery of scientific and technical content, translating complex assay performance and clinical data into educational and customer-facing materials. Contributed to IVD verification and validation studies used in regulatory submissions (EUA, 510(k), PMA, IVDR), working closely with R&D, Quality, and Regulatory teams. Interpreted clinical study data and validation results into clear, audience-appropriate scientific narratives. Set content priorities and workflows aligned with marketing, product, and business objectives. Served as a primary editorial interface between R&D, regulatory, quality, marketing, and sales teams to ensure accuracy, consistency, and regulatory alignment. Mentored team members in scientific writing, data interpretation, and effective communication of complex concepts.

  • Senior Director Applications and Customer Support – US/EU at PlexBio Co., Ltd.
    Apr 2018 - Oct 2020 · 2 yrs 7 mos

    Owned scientific customer enablement and satisfaction for IVD and RUO products, translating real-world customer needs into high-quality technical documentation and educational content. Led development of scientific and technical documentation supporting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a COVID-19 diagnostic assay. Authored and reviewed peer-reviewed publications and regulatory-aligned technical materials, ensuring scientific rigor and consistency. Served as the scientific communication bridge between R&D, regulatory, and commercial teams. Supported IVDR readiness gap assessments by developing a practical understanding of IVDR requirements and aligning with existing technical and quality documentation.

  • Vice President of Research and Development at Zytogenex USA, Inc.
    Jan 2016 - Mar 2018 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Led early research and feasibility-stage development of novel diagnostic concepts, with work focused on technical evaluation and proof-of-concept. Served as scientific lead, defining experimental strategy and overseeing study design, data generation, analysis, and documentation, with selective hands-on execution in a lean laboratory environment. Established an ISO 13485–aligned quality management framework at an early-stage diagnostics company, including SOPs, documentation structure, and data traceability, to enable future regulated development. Developed structured scientific and technical documentation capturing methods, results, and preliminary performance observations for internal decision-making.

  • Scientist (Molecular Biology) at Genemed Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Jul 2012 - Dec 2015 · 3 yrs 6 mos

    Developed and advanced molecular and immunohistochemistry diagnostic assays within regulated environments, ensuring scientific rigor and documentation readiness. Authored and delivered technical documentation, protocols, and training materials for internal teams and external partners.