Meet The Founder

Over 30 years of demonstrated expertise, as a team creator, leader, and manager in the development and application of new concepts, methods and products using a variety of technology tools of many types for the successful resolution of scientific, engineering, political and product development opportunities. This experience authenticates a results-oriented track record of creativity and innovation, problem analysis and resolution, planning and organization, leadership, and teamwork in which I have:

• Organized, managed and led teams of experts from a wide variety of backgrounds to solve problems and create new technologies, products and generated new business opportunities
• Projects successfully completed ranged in size from $100 thousand to $100 million.
• Identified, developed, and integrated appropriate process and product, technologies and tools

Like too many of us, Dr. James Kress has experienced devastation at the hand of cancer. When his sister suddenly relapsed (after being in remission for 25 years), and died of Ewing’s Sarcoma, Dr. Kress committed himself to finding a systematic way to treat and to cure cancer.As a result, The KressWorks Foundation was founded in Northville, Michigan, in 2010 by Dr. Kress. We are a charitable, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Scientific Research Corporation.

The KressWorks Foundation conducts research, development, and application out of a sincere desire to improve the human condition.At the very basis of the research conducted at KressWorks is Dr. Kress’ belief that we must understand the world at the systems level.

We are working to deliver systematic solutions that cure the disease, prevent its recurrence and minimize patient side-effects during treatment.

The current emphasis of KressWorks is the application of Systems Engineering / Biology to the quantitative analysis of cellular systems and the essential chemical, physical and biological processes and their relationships intrinsic to and between them – specifically taking into account Hanahan’s and Weinberg’s “Hallmarks of Cancer”.

We apply quantitative, mathematically based analysis, simulation and experimental verification of cellular systems – starting at the atomic and molecular level and then extend to organ and body systems.

Simply put, our goal is to provide systems level insights into how these atomic and molecular processes can be systematically manipulated to prevent cancer or improve the lives of people living with cancer.Our primary current project is the development of a patient specific methodology for the systematic treatment of Ewing’s Sarcoma. We have designed a methodology we feel can accomplish this.

We are now working with an external, well known Systems Biology firm with extensive expertise in the application of methodologies such as PK/PD, PBPK and other Biophysical/ Biochemical modeling and simulation techniques necessary to complete the development and begin implementation of our whole body, multi-compartment, patient specific methodology for the systematic treatment of Ewing’s Sarcoma.

This methodology will be extensible to the treatment of many other forms of cancer and other diseases.

Dr. Kress’ Vision for a Better Future

Our work—in tandem with the team of biologists, chemists, geneticists, systems biologists, and control systems design and development engineers with whom Dr. Kress is collaborating—will be used to formulate and focus a significant improvement in the treatment of cancer by systematically applying deterministic methods, which are model/simulation-driven with laboratory verification and clinical application.

This approach is intended to be different from and more effective than the current oncological “cancer treatment is an art approach,” where the treatment is based more on historical precedent, intuition, “Silver Bullets” and probabilistic in nature. Rather, cancer treatment should be much more systematic, focused and direct than what is currently practiced.

Evolving from “cancer treatment is an art” and Silver Bullets, we will advance the Third Revolution in Medicine by providing Systematic, Scientifically Derived and Engineered Solutions to Make Our Mark on Cancer.

Through this work, we will make a significant contribution to health care knowledge and its application. The KressWorks Foundation will improve health locally and globally by supporting novel, collaborative research in cancer.

Contributions to Science

1. Co-inventor of the Systematic Treatment Methodology (STM) – 2015The STM provides a clinically applicable, targeted, effective and efficient treatment method for cancer. This methodology provides the framework that (1) characterizes cancers as complex, dynamic and evolving systems, (2) consolidates and integrates the fragmented pieces of science to make the human body work in its own favor, (3) facilitates methodical and personalized treatments and cures using old, current or new methods, (4) facilitates outcome predictions for complex treatments, and (5) Acknowledges and accepts the patient as an active participant in their treatment by (a) being aware of their choices, (b) being aware of the consequences of their choices and (c) knowing the progress being made.

Seminal publication is:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/215,353, James Kress and James Bosley, filed September 8, 2015, Title: “Systematic Treatment for Cancer and Other Diseases”

James Kress was the primary design and developer of the method.

2. Co-inventor for the determination of a method for predicting break points in DNA using Reactive Force Field Molecular Dynamics – 2015

Nucleic acid fractures, such as double strand breaks, pose problems for cells because their immediate and efficient repair by ligation is often constrained by their physical separation and/or the need to process damaged DNA termini. Nucleic acid fractures are highly toxic lesions that can promote cancer, and possibly aging as well. Precise specification of nucleic acid fracture locations would allow better identification of related disease subtypes and enables better personalized, precision treatment.

There is a need in the art for a method for calculating and identifying sites of nucleic acid fracture and for identifying diseases or disorders based upon the calculated break point locations. The method we developed meets this need.

Seminal publication is: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/253,378, James Kress, Adri van Duin, and Mahdi Golkaram, filed November 10, 2015, Title: “Reactive Force Field Method for Computational Analysis of Nucleic Acids”

James Kress provided the conceptual design of the method and performed numerous calculations for validation purposes.

3. Co-inventor of the first direct 3D Computer Aided Tomography System (for automotive and medical applications) (1981 – 1984)

An x-ray radiographic NDE system specifically suited to direct three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction is described. Unlike traditional clinical CT, a three-dimensional reconstruction array is created directly, rather than a series of two-dimensional slices. The method overcomes many of the limitations of current approaches to the study of bone architecture at the microscopic level.

This technology has been commercialized and initiated the field of micro-CT used for dental, oral surgery and other medical as well as industrial uses.

Seminal publications are:

“Practical cone-beam algorithm” LA Feldkamp, LC Davis, JW Kress – JOSA A, 1984
“X-ray tomography applied to NDE of ceramics”, JW Kress, LA Feldkamp – ASME 1983 International Gas Turbine Conference and …, 1983
“Investigation of 3-Dimensional Structure of Trabecular Bone by Computed-Tomography of Iliac Biopsy Samples”, LA Feldkamp, M Kleerekoper, JW Kress, R Freeling… – Calcified Tissue InternationaL, 1983

James Kress performed all the design and fabrication of the system and most of the software development that was used for system control, data analysis and display.

4. Systems Engineering Implemented at Ford Electronics Division – Translational Project (1985 – 1987)

Powertrain control systems are complex electronic and electromechanical systems, consisting of sensors, actuators, wiring and on-board computers, that control the operation and emissions for vehicular systems

such as cars, trucks, etc. To effectively compete in the marketplace, Ford had to have a Systematic and Structured approach to their development and implementation. I was asked to put together a group in the Electronics Division that would provide that capability for combined systems, hardware, and software development and application. We created complete powertrain software/ hardware specifications (using Yourdon’s Structured Analysis and Design Methodology), design and the necessary development system including performance analyzers, compilers, data acquisition, high speed interface circuits/ boards, etc.

Our Systems Engineering methodology was adopted by Ford and revolutionized Ford’s approach to, and ability to meet, the highest quality, functional and emissions performance standards for their products.

All publications were internal Ford reports which are confidential and proprietary to Ford.

James Kress formed, led and managed this first Systems Engineering team.
5. Complex Systems mathematical models for catalytic converter systems – Translational project (1979 – 1981)

At Ford Research, we developed fully predictive mathematical models of these highly complex systems, using a combination of experimental work and reaction diffusion kinetics coupled with heat and mass transfer (turbulent as well as laminar flow), validated their accuracy and efficacy, applied them to a number of prototype systems, and then transferred the models to the powertrain production group where they were, and still are, being used for emission control and exhaust treatment systems for production vehicles.

James Kress was responsible for development of the initial Three-Way Catalyst and Diesel Trap models.as well as validation and application of existing models.

Seminal publications:

“Diffusion-Reaction of CO, NO and O2 in Automobile Exhaust Catalysis”, Kress JW, Otto NC, Bettman M, Wang J, Varma A., AIChE Symposium Series. 1980; 76:202
“A Mathematical Model of Three-Way Catalyst Steady State Performance”, Kress JW, Otto NC, Bettman M, Montreuil CN. Ford Technical Report SR-80-641980.

“Three-Way Catalyst Performance with Modulated A/F Ratio Input”, Kress JW, Montreuil CN, Otto NC. Ford Technical Report SR-81-871981.

Full list of published work can be found at:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=auVU0ZMAAAAJ

Continuing Eduation