Scifoo: A visit to the Navigenics HQ

Last weekend, I attended the fantastic Scifoo unconference at the Googleplex (see the Flickr images of Duncan Hull), but one day before the event, I was invited to visit the HQ of Navigenics, one of the most famous direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies. As I just started PhD in the field of personalized genetics and had my genome analyzed by them, I felt like a kid in a candy shop and asked them many questions.

So on Friday, I took the Caltrain and went to Redwood City. Then Julie Lyons drove me to Navigenics HQ.

Here is the official sign of the company.

For some reason, I thought the HQ would be different from an ordinary office, but I realized that’s the only way they can co-ordinate almost 50 people. Genetic counselors, medical doctors, PR people, scientists and the employees reponsible for the online presence of Navigenics. See the Twitter account.

And believe me, being a medical advisor at such a company must be a dream job.

It was a great experience for me to see how such a company operates and I was pleased to see how they treat bloggers and their Twitter followers. More about the topic this week on Scienceroll…