UAB Pathology in Focus Vol. 2 Issue 1

Page 4

C L I NI C AL

Advancing the Vision of Genomic Diagnostic Pathology at UAB

A

board-certified anatomical and molecular genetic pathologist, Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., joined UAB after serving as associate professor in the Department of Pathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). There, he directed the Clinical and Translational Research Laboratory (CTRL), where he provided interpretation related to the pathology of tumor samples. The lab developed multiple Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based panels targeting variants in both DNA and RNA. He has experience designing and validating targeted, custom DNA and RNA sequencing assays. Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon, Mackinnon’s lab interJr, MD, PhD preted a range of tests, from sequencing data to histology to digital quantitative imaging for immunohistochemical analysis. Mackinnon studied molecular biology before working for a year at the University of Virginia, where he confirmed a love of lab work. He went on to enroll in the Medical Scholars Program- a joint M.D., Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After graduating, he did his residency in Anatomical Pathology, a research postdoctoral fellowship, and a clinical fellowship in Molecular Genetic Pathology at

2 UAB Pathology 2020 Issue 1

the University of Chicago. From there, Dr. Mackinnon joined the faculty at MCW, where he established and directed the CTRLan independent molecular and histology core lab within the department of pathology. The need for the lab arose because,

In less than 6 months, Dr. Mackinnon has taken the task of serving as the inaugural director at UAB of the Division of Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics (GDB) in the Department of Pathology — and run with it. Mackinnon says, there was “no avenue or resources for doing research projects, making it challenging for faculty and trainees to develop and advance their careers.” This was in 2010, “the start of the molecular era,” as Mackinnon describes it. The lab obtained CAP and CLIA certification and began to offer clinical molecular testing to the hospital lab. Nine years later, the lab had become a success, and MCW began efforts to commercialize the clinical testing and research capabilities that Mackinnon had developed. Around this time, Mackinnon learned of an opening for the inaugural director of the Division

of Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics under the leadership of a relatively new department chair at UAB, George Netto, M.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair, UAB Pathology. “The opportunity seemed fantastic—to take this new division, which had been set up and stewarded by Dr. Shuko Harada (Associate Professor, GDB), who did a great job—and advance it under the leadership of Dr. Netto, who strongly supports it,” Mackinnon says. In 2019, he joined the team already in place, including Dr. Harada, Dr. Anna Yemelyanova (Professor and Associate Director of the division), Dr. Malay Basu (Assistant Professor), and Dr. Diana Morlote (Assistant Professor). “Dr. Mackinnon is leading the Division of Genomics Diagnostics and Bioinformatics at an exciting time when we are expanding both our team of experts and the tests and services we offer relating to genomics diagnostics,” says George Netto, M.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair, UAB Pathology.

The 3 initiatives

Mackinnon has three initiatives underway for this year. The first is to take the current test menu and advance it to newer platforms and chemistries. The division has several assays they have developed, primarily in the area of oncology.


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Articles inside

Netto Named Editor-in-Chief of Modern Pathology

1min
page 48

Pathology Takes 3rd at SOM Diversity Fair

1min
page 47

4 Anatomic Pathology Faculty Retire

4min
pages 45-46

Grizzle Recognized with ISBER Founder’s Award

2min
page 44

Chen and Reddy Honored with SOM Dean's Excellence Awards

4min
pages 42-43

Dussaq Wins 2019 William Boyd Medal

2min
page 41

3 Awarded Professor Emeritus Status

5min
pages 39-40

Six Faculty Promotions

2min
page 38

Pathology Takes Home 3 Argus Awards

2min
page 37

Pathology Faculty Appointed to Endowed Professorships 3

2min
page 36

2019 Holiday Party

1min
page 35

6th Annual Listinsky Lecture Features International Heparanese Expert

2min
page 34

Netto Teaches in Europe, South America and Asia

1min
page 33

Eric Olson Delivers Pritchett Lecture 28th annual Paulette Shirey Pritchett Endowed Lecture

3min
page 32

Alexander Lecture Features Jacob Steinberg

1min
page 31

New Class of Residents and Fellows Welcomed

2min
page 30

Pathology Mentorships Foster Success

1min
page 29

Department Celebrates Outgoing Residents and Fellows

2min
page 28

Professor Puts Blood Cancer on the Run

1min
page 27

Research Retreat 2019 at Regions Field a Hit

3min
pages 26-27

Honoring Former Department Chair Jay McDonald, M.D.

3min
page 25

Shevde's Research Featured by Department of Defense

1min
page 24

Pivotal Role Found for IgG Autoantibodies in IgA Nephropathy

4min
pages 23-24

Model Probes Possible Treatments for Common Cause of Infant Death

8min
pages 20-22

Cancer Research Retreat

1min
page 19

New Review Identifies 4 Hallmarks of Cancer Metastasis

1min
page 19

4th Annual TTP Fair a Success

1min
page 18

Karthikeyan and Hildreth Join Division of Molecular & Cellular Pathology

4min
pages 17-18

Nice Vice Chair for Research Appointed

2min
page 16

Miller Selected as Division Director of Neuropathology

1min
page 16

USCAP Conference 2019

2min
page 15

A New History Book on UAB Pathology

1min
page 14

Marques Joins ABPath Advisory Committee

1min
page 14

Morlote Joins Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics

2min
page 14

Netto Publishes 3 Articles

5min
pages 12-13

Tri-State Conference Features UAB Faculty

2min
page 11

4 New Faculty in Anatomic Pathology

2min
page 10

Renowned Pediatric Pathologist Establishes Education Fund

2min
page 9

New Faculty in Laboratory Medicine

1min
page 8

Fatima Publishes Book on Practical Approach to Renal Biopsy

1min
page 8

Open Source: How a Data Scientist Is Bringing Precision Medicine to the People

6min
pages 6-7

Advancing the Vision of Genomic Diagnostic Pathology at UAB

2min
page 4

Welcome from the Department Chair

2min
page 3

Table of Contents

2min
page 2
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