Molecular Diagnostics

Wayne W. Grody, M.D., Ph.D. is a Professor in the Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is the director of the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory within the UCLA Medical Center, and is also an attending physician in the Department of Pediatrics, specializing in the care of patients with or at risk for genetic disorders. He has been one of the primary developers of quality assurance and ethical guidelines for DNA-based genetic testing for a number of governmental and professional agencies including the FDA, AMA, CAP, ACMG, ASHG, NCCLS, CDC, NIH-DOE Human Genome Project (ELSI program), and PSRGN. He served as a member of the NIH-DOE Task Force on Genetic Testing, and was the working group chair for development of national guidelines for cystic fibrosis and factor V-Leiden mutation screening. Most recently, he was appointed chair of an Advisory Committee on Genomic Medicine for the entire VA healthcare system. He did his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University, received his M.D. and Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine, and completed residency and fellowship training at UCLA. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Molecular Genetic Pathology) and the American Board of Medical Genetics (Clinical Genetics, Molecular Genetics, and Biochemical Genetics).

• I. Introduction and Methodology  Quantivative PCR: an introductionSignal Amplification Methods in Molecular DiagnosticsThe Lab-on-a-Chip Approach for Molecular DiagnosticsNucleic Extraction and AmplificationGeneral Procedures    II. Quality Assurance, Regulatory, and Ethical Issues  Billing and Reimbursement for Molecular DiagnosticsMolecular Pathology and Infectious DiseasesEthical Considerations in Molecular DiagnosticsQuality Control, Assurance, Identification and Standards  III. Genetic Disease  Molecular Testing for Cystic Fibrosis and CFTR-Related ConditionsCarrier Testing for Neurogenetic DiseasesHemochromatosisStandards and Recommendations for Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Huntington Disease, the Autosomal Dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxias, and Friedreich Ataxia   IV. Cancer  The Role of Micro-RNAs in CancerMolecular Diagnostics in the Evaluation of Cancer: Modern Concepts and OverviewGene Expression Analysis for Tumor Profiling GEA for TPMolecular Diagnostics of Hematopoetic Malignancies  V. Infectious Diseases   VirusesHepatic B and C VirusesMolecular Diagnosis of CytomegalovirusMolecular Detection of Multiple Respiratory VirusesBacteriaMolecular Methods for Identification and Characterization of Acinetobacter speciesMolecular Detection and Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated InfectionsMolecular Detection Of Group B StreptococcusRole of Molecular Techniques in the Epidemiologic Investigation Of Hospital-Acquired InfectionsHuman Papilloma Virus and its Role in Cervical Carcinoma  VI. Specialized Applications of Molecular Testing  Molecular HLA Typing Methods Used in Clinical LaboratoriesIdentification through DNA analysis in criminal and family relatedness investigations.VII. Pharmacogenetics  Overview of Pharmacogenomics and Applications for the Modern Clinical LaboratoryUDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and the Glucuronidation in Oncology Applications and HyperbilirubinemiaPharmacogenetics of P-450 EnzymesPharmacogenomics of Thiopurine Methyl Transferase (TPMT): Importance in Monitoring of Mercaptopurine/Azathioprine Therapy