About Monte Biotech

A passionate team of scientists dedicated to empowering research through precision genomic services and unwavering quality.

Democratizing Access to Genomic Technology

Monte Biotech was founded with a singular mission: to make high-quality genomic services accessible, affordable, and fast for every researcher — whether at a major research university, a bootstrapped startup, or a community college teaching lab.

We believe that the pace of scientific discovery should not be limited by the cost or turnaround time of essential molecular biology services. Every sample that arrives at our facility is treated with the same rigor, whether it's part of a 10,000-sample population study or a single undergraduate thesis project.

Our Vision: To become the most trusted and innovative CRO in North America by 2028, known for speed, quality, and scientist-first customer service that genuinely accelerates the research enterprise.

Our Lab

Company Timeline

From a single sequencer in a shared lab space to a 12,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility serving clients worldwide.

2018

Founded in Austin, TX

Dr. Elena Vasquez and Dr. Michael Torres launch Monte Biotech from a shared incubator space at the Austin Technology Incubator with a single ABI 3130 Genetic Analyzer and a vision to serve underserved research communities in Central Texas.

2019

First Major Expansion

Acquired two additional ABI 3730xl DNA Analyzers and expanded into a dedicated 3,000 sq ft laboratory. Launched qPCR services with QuantStudio 6 Pro platform. Surpassed 5,000 sequencing reactions milestone.

2020

COVID-19 Response & ISO Certification

Pivoted operations to support SARS-CoV-2 surveillance testing for Austin-area universities. Achieved ISO 17025 accreditation. Processed over 15,000 COVID samples while maintaining all existing service commitments.

2021

NGS Launch & National Reach

Installed Illumina MiSeq system and launched next-generation sequencing services. Expanded client base to 35 states with overnight shipping partnerships. Hired first dedicated bioinformatics team.

2022

New Headquarters

Moved to our current 12,000 sq ft facility at 6615 Vaught Ranch Road. Installed NovaSeq 6000 for high-throughput NGS. Launched SNP genotyping and cell-based assay services. Team grew to 35+ employees.

2024

50,000 Sample Milestone

Surpassed 50,000 samples processed. Achieved CAP and CLIA certifications for clinical-grade testing. Opened satellite sample drop-off locations in Houston and Dallas. Launched online ordering portal.

Meet the Scientists Behind the Science

Our multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in molecular biology, bioinformatics, quality assurance, and project management.

Dr. Elena Vasquez

Dr. Elena Vasquez

Co-Founder & CEO

Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Stanford. 18 years experience in genomics. Former director of sequencing core at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Michael Torres

Dr. Michael Torres

Co-Founder & CSO

Ph.D. Genetics, UT Southwestern. Pioneer in high-throughput sequencing methods. 12 publications in Genome Research and BMC Genomics.

Dr. Priya Sharma

Dr. Priya Sharma

Director of Bioinformatics

Ph.D. Computational Biology, UCSD. Expert in NGS pipeline development, variant calling, and cloud-based genomic data analysis.

David Chen

David Chen, MBA

VP of Operations

MBA, UT Austin McCombs. 15 years in biotech operations and supply chain management. Former Operations Director at Ambry Genetics.

Dr. Amanda Richardson

Dr. Amanda Richardson

Quality Assurance Manager

M.S. Biochemistry, University of North Texas. ASQ-certified Quality Auditor. Led ISO 17025 accreditation and CAP laboratory certification efforts.

Dr. Kevin Chen

Dr. Kevin Chen

Senior Sequencing Scientist

Ph.D. Genomics, Univ. of Michigan. 10 years hands-on experience with ABI capillary electrophoresis platforms and Illumina NGS systems.

Dr. Maria Gonzalez

Dr. Maria Gonzalez

NGS Lab Manager

M.S. Molecular Genetics, Texas A&M. Expert in library preparation protocols, enrichment strategies, and sequencing QC metrics.

Dr. Thomas Wright

Dr. Thomas Wright

Client Services Director

M.S. Cell Biology, Oklahoma State. Bridges the gap between clients and lab operations. Specializes in experimental design consultation and troubleshooting.

Certifications & Accreditations

Our commitment to quality is validated by the most rigorous accreditation bodies in laboratory science.

ISO 17025:2017

International standard for testing and calibration laboratories. Ensures technical competence and ability to produce precise, accurate test results.

CLIA Certified

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certification for clinical diagnostic testing. Regulated by CMS to ensure quality laboratory testing.

CAP Accredited

College of American Pathologists accreditation. The gold standard in laboratory quality, with rigorous biennial on-site inspections.

GLP Compliant

Good Laboratory Practice compliant for regulatory submissions. Ensures data integrity and traceability for FDA and EMA filings.

Selected Publications

Our data has contributed to hundreds of peer-reviewed publications. Here are some highlights from recent years.

Nature Genetics, 2024

Genome-wide association study identifies 47 novel loci associated with treatment response in metastatic colorectal cancer

Chen, J. et al. — Whole genome sequencing and SNP genotyping performed by Monte Biotech.

Science, 2023

CRISPR-based prime editing enables precise correction of sickle cell disease mutations in patient-derived iPSCs

Mitchell, S. et al. — Sanger sequencing confirmation of edited clones by Monte Biotech.

Molecular Ecology, 2023

Population genomics reveals cryptic speciation and adaptive divergence in Edwards Plateau cave-dwelling spiders

Alvarez, R. et al. — Microsatellite fragment analysis and RAD-seq library preparation by Monte Biotech.

Cell Reports, 2022

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals tumor microenvironment heterogeneity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Torres, M. et al. — 10x Genomics library preparation and NovaSeq sequencing by Monte Biotech.

Join the Monte Biotech Community

Partner with us for your next research project. We're committed to delivering the highest quality data on the fastest timelines in the industry.

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