by Hannah Buckelew
Girish Melkani, M.S., Ph.D., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Pathology’s Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, received funding to support his project, “Promoting circadian rhythms to optimize gut-to-brain signaling for Alzheimer’s disease.” The five-year $3.2 million R01 is funded by the National Institutes on Aging.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of neurodegeneration worldwide and one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Alterations in gut microbiota are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, however the link between AD and gut microbiome is poorly studied. Melkani’s study will investigate the effects of microbiome disruption on AD progression.
by Christina Crowe
Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon, M.D., Ph.D., Division Director, Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, has been named the Robert B. Adams Endowed Professor in Pathology. He is the second individual to hold this endowment, established in 2014, effective August 31. The first holder was X. Long Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., former director, Division of Laboratory Medicine.
A board-certified anatomical and molecular genetic pathologist, Mackinnon joined UAB in 2019 after serving as associate professor in the Department of Pathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Mackinnon directed the Clinical and Translational Research Laboratory (CTRL) at MCW, where he provided interpretation related to the pathology of tumor samples. The lab developed multiple Next Generation Sequencing-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 digital quantitative imaging for immunohistochemical analysis.
“Dr. Mackinnon has been a pioneer of the validation of custom assays and an innovative leader in the field of genomic diagnostics,” says Gene P. Siegal, M.D., Ph.D., Interim Chair, UAB Pathology. “This endowment, generously supported by the Adams family, bolsters his work and the work of our team of experts in genomics diagnostics, allowing us to further expand the services and tests we offer.”
Mackinnon is a member of the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathology, where he served on the Molecular Pathology Section, Pathologist Recertification Individualized Self-Assessment Examination Committee. His research interests include the molecular pathology of solid tumors and quantitative immunohistochemistry.
by Christina Crowe
Three UAB Pathology faculty members have been assigned emeritus status in the department, effective August 31.
Marisa Marques, M.D., Professor, Laboratory Medicine and Director, Blood Bank, Stem Cell Facility, Callahan Eye Hospital Lab, retired July 31, 2023, after more than 30 years of service to UAB.
Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, Ph.D., Professor, Molecular & Cellular Pathology, retired July 1, 2023, after 37 years at UAB.
Ralph Sanderson, Ph.D., Professor and former division director, Molecular & Cellular Pathology, retired August 31, 2023, after 17 years of working at UAB.
All three were approved as professors emeritus by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees vote held September 1. Congratulations to these outstanding faculty who dedicated their careers to UAB Pathology.
by Christina Crowe
Two UAB Pathology faculty members have been awarded pre-R01 awards by the O’Neal Invests program of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.:
Selvaranagan Ponnazhagan, Ph.D., Endowed Professor in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, received a pre-R01 funded at $160,000 each year for two years to study, “Elucidating the functional significance of full-length androgen receptor in castration-resistant prostate cancer.”
Steve Lim, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Molecular & Cellular Pathology, received a pre-R01 for the same amount for his work, “Nuclear FAK-mediated Epigenetic Reprogramming of Triple Negative Breast Cancer,” from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA).
Congratulations to both researchers on their continued success.
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