Astek Diagnostics Appoints Doug White as Executive Chairman

Astek Diagnostics Inc. today announced that Doug White has been appointed Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, strengthening the company’s leadership.

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES, September 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Astek Diagnostics Inc. today announced that Doug White has been appointed Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, strengthening the company’s leadership as it advances Jiddu™, its rapid diagnostic platform for urinary tract infection, toward FDA submission and commercial launch.

“I am excited to work closely with the board of directors, investors, and Mustafa as we accelerate the development and commercialization of a system that has the potential to significantly improve the standard of care for UTI diagnosis and treatment,” said White.

White joined Astek as a strategic consultant in March 2026 and quickly became a central force in shaping the company’s financing strategy, commercial model, and operational capabilities. As Executive Chairman, he will partner closely with founder and CEO Mustafa Al-Adhami while focusing on governance, capital formation, and strategic partnerships.

“Doug immediately elevated how we think, plan, and execute,” said Al-Adhami. “He’s scaled diagnostics businesses in exactly the markets we’re entering, and he challenges us in all the right ways. As we build the board that will take Jiddu to market, he’s the Chair who already understands the mission and the momentum.”

“Doug’s leadership and deep industry experience have already had a transformative impact on Astek’s strategy and execution. His track record in diagnostics and commitment to improving patient care make him the ideal partner as we move Jiddu toward market,” said Valentina Milanova, Managing Director.

About Doug White
White’s career spans more than 30 years of commercial and operational executive leadership in diagnostics and medical devices. He has held executive roles at Digene, Qiagen, BD Diagnostics, Bayer Diagnostics, PolyMedco, and Emergent BioSolutions. His track record includes building the commercial engine behind HPV-based cervical cancer screening in the U.S. and scaling Emergent’s Devices Business Unit tenfold, including the acquisition and expansion of Narcan^® Nasal Spray.

About Astek Diagnostics
Astek’s Jiddu™ platform is designed to transform UTI management by confirming bacterial infection and delivering antibiotic susceptibility results in roughly one hour. The platform’s benchtop fluorometric analyzer and single-use microfluidic cartridges aim to replace the one- to three-day wait associated with traditional urine culture.

Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD
Astek Diagnostics
mustafa@astekdx.com
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