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About Us

During the course of the past 25 years, laboratory medicine has evolved rapidly in its application of DNA, and subsequently RNA, as a key analyte in the investigation of disease. Indeed, DNA and RNA have become routine targets of clinical laboratory testing and as such, a new branch of laboratory medicine has developed: molecular diagnostics.

For example, clinical laboratory medicine has evolved through the measurement of glucose, red blood cells, cholesterol, tumor markers and thousands of other analytes to answer diagnostic questions about disease. In the last 25 years, we have learned how to ask and answer specific diagnostic questions about genetic disease, disease predisposition, cancer, infections, tissue typing for transplantation and much more using a patient’s DNA and RNA (and proteins in the brand new field of proteomics).

As molecular diagnostics matures, new applications have materialized ranging from pharmacogenomics (how genetic variation impacts an individual’s response to a prescription drug) to personalized medicine, for example, whether or not a patient’s breast tumor is likely to recur, thereby providing more rational approaches to therapy.

The CMM will be an active and capable pioneer in the field, taking advantage of its cutting-edge technologies, and the strong resources offered by its partners and founding institutions. For example, Spectrum Health patients will benefit from the implementation of biomarker panels developed in Van Andel Institute’s translational research environment when these tests are validated and offered in an appropriately licensed and credentialed clinical laboratory, that is, the CMM.

Indeed, as more diagnostic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies develop their interests in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, the CMM is poised to not only bring the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and applications to the medical community but also to host clinical trials in a world-class environment. Housed in ultramodern laboratory space on the top floor of the Cook-Devos Science Center, the CMM, in combination with the considerable resources of its partners and founders, is a compelling and attractive site for biotech companies to consider.

CMM Capabilities

- CLIA-certified clinical diagnostics laboratory

- Pharmacogenomics capabilities (cyp450 genotyping)

- College of American Pathologists Clinical Laboratory Accreditation (April 2007)

- GLP-like environment

- Tissue of Origin testing (for cancer of uncertain primary)

- Cell Search Assay for circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer

Genomics
  • Real-time PCR capabilities
  • Automated, high throughput high density array analysis: SNP 5.0, 6.0; U1332.0, Whole transcript including Exon Array and Gene 1.0 ST
  • High-throughput nucleic acid extraction and storage (May 2007)
  • Biobanking: access to highly characterized patient specimens and data

Proteomics
  • multiplex measurements of protein biomarkers spanning the breadth of biology

Daniel H. Farkas, Ph.D., HCLD

Executive Director

Dr. Farkas is an internationally respected leader in the field of molecular diagnostics and has published widely on the subject. Indeed he was recently voted by his peers to be the recipient of the Association for Molecular Pathology Leadership Award winner for 2007. Dr. Farkas joined the CMM as Executive Director in late December 2006.

Dr. Farkas has established three hospital-based molecular diagnostics laboratories in his nearly 20-year career. These include Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ; William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI; and The Methodist Hospital in Houston. Dr. Farkas has also held faculty positions at Cornell University, Baylor College of Medicine, Michigan State University (adjunct, current) and William Beaumont Hospital.

Dr. Farkas has been active in many industry associations, including the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, on whose board he now serves, the College of American Pathologists and the Association for Molecular Pathology, of which he was President in 2003. He is also a member of the FDA’s Clinical and Molecular Genetics Advisory panel.

Dr. Farkas was the first person to be certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB; he now serves on their Board) in Molecular Diagnostics and holds the credentials of High-complexity Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD) and Clinical Consultant (CC) from ABB. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Biotechnology Healthcare, and Diagnostic Molecular Pathology.