# Tom Willis

> Tom Willis, PhD, is a genomics entrepreneur with more than 20 years of company-building experience who became CEO of Arima Genomics in June 2025. A Yale and Stanford physicist turned biotech serial founder, he co-invented Molecular Inversion Probe technology, built two genomics companies from the ground up - ParAllele BioScience (acquired by Affymetrix) and Sequenta (whose ClonoSEQ assay became NCCN-standard for leukemia and lymphoma residual disease testing) - then spent a decade as Venture Partner at Illumina Ventures before stepping in to lead Arima, a company pioneering 3D genomics for cancer diagnostics.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Arima Genomics
- **Organizations:** Arima Genomics, Illumina Ventures, Sequenta, ParAllele BioScience, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Stanford Genome Technology Center
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** PhD, Physics, Stanford University, BS, Physics, Yale University
- **Known for:** Co-inventor of Molecular Inversion Probe technology for high-throughput genotyping, Founded and led ParAllele BioScience through acquisition by Affymetrix (2005), Founded and led Sequenta; its ClonoSEQ assay became NCCN-endorsed standard of care for minimal residual disease assessment in leukemia and lymphoma

## Career timeline

- **1990s** — Directed technology development at Stanford Genome Technology Center during the Human Genome Project; co-invented Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) technology for high-throughput genotyping
- **2001** — Co-founded ParAllele BioScience to commercialize MIP technology for high-throughput genotyping; served as CEO
- **2005** — ParAllele BioScience acquired by Affymetrix
- **2008** — Founded Sequenta; developed sequencing-based immune repertoire assessment platform as CEO
- **2015** — Sequenta merged with Adaptive Biotechnologies; ClonoSEQ diagnostic became NCCN-endorsed standard of care for residual disease in leukemia and lymphoma
- **2015** — Became Venture Partner at Illumina Ventures; served approximately a decade evaluating genomics innovations; board/advisor roles at Cernostics, Rebus Biosystems, SonoThera
- **2025-06** — Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Arima Genomics; company closes $22M Series C led by Illumina Ventures

## Achievements

- Co-inventor of Molecular Inversion Probe technology for high-throughput genotyping
- Founded and led ParAllele BioScience through acquisition by Affymetrix (2005)
- Founded and led Sequenta; its ClonoSEQ assay became NCCN-endorsed standard of care for minimal residual disease assessment in leukemia and lymphoma
- Decade as Venture Partner at Illumina Ventures, evaluating genomics innovations and building diagnostics portfolio
- Led $22M Series C financing as incoming CEO of Arima Genomics (June 2025)
- Technology contributions to the Human Genome Project at Stanford Genome Technology Center

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — Appointed CEO of Arima Genomics and led close of $22M Series C financing round led by Illumina Ventures
- **2025-10** — Featured in Illumina Ventures spotlight interview discussing Arima's 3D genomics platform and cancer diagnostics mission
- **2026-05** — Continues as CEO of Arima Genomics; company partnered with Fox Chase Cancer Center to advance 3D genome diagnostics for cancer care

## Links

- Website: https://arimagenomics.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-willis-phd-bba11836

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tom-willis
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-13