Cytogenetics

The Philadelphia Chromosome, first described by Department member Peter Nowell and named after its place of discovery, provided the first evidence that genetic abnormalities were linked to cancer. This discovery at Penn more than 50 years ago ushered in the modern period of cytogenetics. Now, the Center for Personalized Diagnostics (CPD), founded in 2013, builds on this legacy and is set to pave the way for a new era of genomic and therapeutic pathology.

The Cytogenetics Laboratory, as part of the CPD, performs chromosome analysis in diagnosing and classifying leukemias and other hematologic disorders under the direction of Jennifer Morrissette, PhD, Scientific Director.

The CPD, a joint initiative between Penn Medicine's Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center, integrates Molecular Genetics, Pathology Informatics, and Genomic Pathology for individualized patient diagnoses and to elucidate cancer treatment options for physicians. The CAP/CLIA-certified CPD enables precision therapies by offering genome-wide diagnostics to identify the specific tumor characteristics for each patient.

Team:
Jennifer Morrissette, PhD, Scientific Director, Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory
Jacquelyn Roth, PhD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Vania Aikawa, MD, Technical Specialist, Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory        

More information on the Center for Personalized Diagnostics.