Wayne Grody

Wayne W Grody

Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles

Professor, Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles

Professor, Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles

(310) 825-5648

Laboratory Address:
1P-266, 1P-439 CHS

Office Address:
10833 Le Conte Ave.
CHS 1P-249
CAMPUS - 173216
Los Angeles, CA 90095

UC Profile
http://www.uclahealth.org/WayneGrody

Affiliations

Director, Orphan Disease Testing Center
Chief, Molecular Pathology, Cytogenetics, and Orphan Disease, Molecular Pathology
Physician, Pediatric Genetics
Member, CTSI, Genetics & Genomics GPB Home Area, JCCC Genitourinary Oncology Program Area
Faculty, Cellular and Molecular Pathology PhD Program
 

Research Interests

Utilizing modern molecular biologic techniques such as gene cloning, microarray hybridization, and gene transfer, my laboratory is involved in the elucidation, diagnosis and ultimately treatment of single-gene defects at the molecular level. Using human arginase deficiency, a defect in the urea cycle, as a model system, we are exploring, in close collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Cederbaum, the molecular structure and tissue-specific regulation of the arginase genes in health and disease. We have determined the mutation sites in a large cohort of arginase-deficient patients worldwide, have identified important regulatory sequences governing tissue-specific expression and extinction by transferring the cloned genes and promotor sequences into various recipient cells types, and have constructed two arginase-deficient knockout mouse models. Alternatives for gene replacement therapy have been explored by re-directing the transfected genes to different subcellular compartments. Both the ontogeny and the regulated expression of the arginase isozymes are being studied in a variety of developmental and adult systems and in certain malignant tumors (e.g., prostate cancer) in which their expression is induced. In addition, as director of the UCLA Medical Center’s Diagnostic Molecular Pathology Laboratory, I can also offer my trainees exposure to the latest clinical applications of molecular biology in the diagnosis of a wide range of genetic, neoplastic, and infectious diseases as well as DNA fingerprinting. A major effort in this area has been our pilot project, funded by the Human Genome Initiative, to study the effectiveness of large-scale population screening for cystic fibrosis mutations by DNA analysis. This experience has served as a paradigm for the continuing development of other important DNA-based screening tests in our laboratory.
 

Biography

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, one of the first such facilities in the country to offer DNA-based tests for diagnosis of a wide variety of genetic, infectious, and neoplastic diseases, as well as bone marrow engraftment, patient specimen identification and paternity testing by DNA fingerprinting. He 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, and is President-Elect of the American College of Medical Genetics. 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).

Publications