Advancing the Vision of Genomic Diagnostic Pathology at UAB

Advancing the Vision of Genomic Diagnostic Pathology at UAB 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. Mackinnon’s lab interpreted 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 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, 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. Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon, Jr, MD, PhD 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. A