Adjunct Professor, Department of Microbiology
|Address:||Bevill Research Bldg, r. 276
Birmingham, AL 35294-2170
PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Postdoctoral studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Postdoctoral studies, California Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral studies, Oxford University, UK
The Immunogenetics Program has a number of ongoing studies to evaluate the role of genes in predisposing individuals to disease states. Presently our funded programs consists of studies of non-insulin dependent diabetes in African Americans, of genetic predisposition to cariogenic bacteria and caries and genes which predispose to hemochromatosis. A large database of information collected from previous studies of genetic disorders is also available for analysis. Our approach is to utilize recombinant DNA techniques to identify candidate genes that may predispose an individual to a given disease state and/or be used to clinically subcategorize the disease or predict outcome. This approach involves collecting and correlating extended family history of disease information, looking for genetic variants by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, polymerase chain reaction analysis or through nucleotide sequencing, obtaining lifestyle information and clinical laboratory values. In addition, the Immunogenetics Program is linked to the Immunogenetics/DNA Diagnostic Laboratory which conducts genetic testing for a number of genetic disorders, as well as paternity and forensic cases. Projects are available to establish and validate genetic tests used for these purposes.