Ross J. Molinaro, PhD

Clinical Chemistry
Molecular Medicine

Assistant Professor
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Other Appointments/Positions

Co-Director, Emory Clinical Translational Research Laboratory, Emory University

Assistant Medical Director of Core Laboratories, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, GA

Pathology Division(s):
Clinical Pathology
Experimental Pathology

Email Address:
rjmolin@emory.edu

Education:

BS   Medical Technology, 1995 - 2000

MS   Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Science, 2000 - 2002

Fellow   Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 2003 - 2006

PhD   Clinical/Bioanalytical Chemistry, Molecular Medicine, 2002 - 2006

Postdoctoral Fellowship   Clinical Chemistry, 2006 - 2008

Fellow   National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, 2008 -

Research Interests:

- Clinical Translational Research
The focus of our laboratory is the development of clinical based testing methods, clinical utility examination, clinical trial testing, routine and special method development, and clinical method validation, encompassing clinical pathology translational research. Our goal is to assist intra- and inter-institutional Principal Investigators, Diagnostic Companies, and Industry affiliates with the analytical transition of research based testing methods to clinical diagnostics.

- Genomic and Proteomic Biomarkers
Our laboratory also investigates genomic and proteomic biomarkers of disease, including diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and transplant rejection. Specifically, the role of a protein overexpressed in prostate cancer, named Poly(rC) binding protein 2 (PCBP2), and its involvement in telomere/telomerase stabalization is examined.

Clinical Focus:

I serve as the Assistant Medical Director of Core Laboratories at Emory University Hospital Midtown.

Honors / Awards:

Young Investigator Award, Academy Of Clinical Laboratory Physicians And Scientists, 2008

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Society for Young Clinical Laboratorians Domestic Travel Grant, 2008

Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2008

Mass Spectrometry Applications to the Clinical Laboratory, Junior Faculty Travel Award, 2008

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Student Travel Grant, 2008

Young Investigator Award, Academy Of Clinical Laboratory Physicians And Scientists, 2007

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Student Travel Grant, 2007

Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2007

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Society for Young Clinical Laboratorians Domestic Travel Grant, 2007

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Past-Presidents' Scholarship ($100,000), 2006-2008

Graduate Student Award for Basic Science, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 2006

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting Travel Award, 2006

Second Place for the Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2006

Cleveland State University College of Science Travel Award, 2006

First Place for the Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 2nd Annual Regional Interdisciplinary Symposium, Cleveland State University, Cleveland OH, 2006

Cleveland Clinic Innovator Award, 2005

Distinguished Abstract Award National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, 2005

Editor's Choice Award, Tech Sample Generalist Series "Difficulties in Identifying Campylobacter in Blood Cultures", 2005

American Association of Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting Travel Award, 2005

Cleveland State University Travel Award, 2005

First Place for the Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2005

Molecular Medicine Fellowship, Cleveland State University/Cleveland Clinic ($42,000), 2004-2006

Best Poster Presentation at the Seventh Graduate Student Symposium of the Cleveland State University/Cleveland Clinic Joint Ph.D. Program in Clinical/Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2004

International Cytokine Society/International Society Interferon and Cytokine Research Travel Award, 2004

Cleveland State University College of Science Travel Award, 2004

Cleveland Clinic/Lerner Research Institute Achievement Award, 2004

Teaching Assistant Award, University at Buffalo, State University at New York, 2003

Teaching Assistant Award, University at Buffalo, State University at New York, 2002

Specialty Boards:

2000 Medical Technology, ASCP

2008 Clinical Chemistry, American Board of Clinical Chemistry

Selected Publications:

Published and Accepted Research Articles -

Rumph B, Bolliger D, Narang N, Molinaro RJ, Levy JH, Szlam F, Tanaka KA. In Vitro Comparative Study of Hemostatic Components in Warfarin-Treated and Fibrinogen-Deficient Plasma. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2009 Oct 9.

Bolliger D, Sreeram G, Duncan A, Molinaro RJ, Szlam F, Chen EP, Tanaka KA. Prophylactic use of factor IX concentrate in a Jehovah's Witness patient. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 Nov;88(5):1666-8.

Bolliger D, Szlam F, Molinaro RJ, Rahe-Meyer N, Levy JH, Tanaka KA. Finding the optimal concentration range for fibrinogen replacement after severe haemodilution: an in vitro model. Br J Anaesth. 2009 Jun;102(6):793-9.

Abou-Diwan C, Young AN, Molinaro RJ. Hemoglobinopathies and Clinical Laboratory Monitoring. MLO Med Lab Obs. 2009 Aug.

Molinaro RJ, Szlam F, Levy JH, Fantz CR, Tanaka KA. Low Plasma Fibrinogen Levels with the Clauss Method during Anticoagulation with Bivalirudin. 2008. (Anesthesiology Jul;109(1):160-1.)

Molinaro RJ, Heimburg J. Positivity in the Clinical Laboratory Workplace. (Management No. Q-18 2008 ASCP LabQ.)

Molinaro RJ. Issues of Importance in Coagulation Monitoring. (Phlebotomy No. Q-2 2008 ASCP, LabQ)

Molinaro RJ. Standardization Efforts and Current Measurement Pitfalls Involved with Long Term Monitoring of Glycemic Control. (Cover Page Article, MLO Med Lab Obs. 2008 Jan;40(1):10-4, 16-9.)

Molinaro RJ. Metabolic Syndrome: an update on prevalence, criteria, and clinical laboratory testing. (MLO Med Lab Obs. 2007 Nov;39(11):24-7.)

Molinaro RJ, Malathi K, Jha BK, Varambally S, Chinnaiyan AM, Silverman RH. Identification of RNA Activators of 2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase in Prostate Cancer Cells. (Nucleic Acids Research. 2006;34(22):6684-95.)

Zhou L, Thakur CS, Molinaro RJ, Paranjape JM, Hoppes R, Jeang KT, Silverman RH, Torrence PF. Delivery of 2-5A Cargo into Living Cells using the Tat Cell Penetrating Peptide: 2-5A-tat. (Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry. 2006 Dec 1;14(23):7862-74.)

Rennert H, Sadowl C, Edwards J, Bantly D, Molinaro RJ, Orr-Urtreger A, Bagg A, Moore J, Silverman RH. An Alternative Spliced RNASEL Variant in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes. (Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research. 2006 Nov;26(11):820-6.)

Urisman A*, Molinaro RJ*, Fischer N*, Plummer SJ, Casey G, Klein EA, Ganem D, Silverman RH, DeRisi JL. Identification of a Novel Gammaretroviral Genome in Prostate Tumors of Patients Homozygous for R462Q RNASEL Variant. (Cover Page Article. PLoS Pathogens. 2006 March;2(3):e25. *These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Zhou A, Molinaro RJ, Krishnamurthy M, Silverman RH. Mapping of the Human RNASEL Promoter and Expression in Cancer and Normal Cells. (Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research. 2005 Oct;25(10):595-603.)

Zhou L, Civitello ER, Gupta N, Silverman RH, Molinaro RJ, Anderson DE, Torrence PF. Endowing Rnase H-inactive antisense with catalytic activity: 2-5A-morphants. (Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2005 Mar-Apr;16(2):383-90.)

Molinaro RJ, Heimburg J. Difficulties in Identifying Campylobacter in Blood Cultures. (Generalist No. G-7 2005, ASCP Review, Tech Sample)

Molinaro RJ, Bernstein JM, Koury ST. Localization and Quantitation of Eotaxin mRNA in Human Nasal Polyps. (Immunological Investigations. 2003 Aug;32(3):143-54.)

Book Chapters -

Molinaro RJ. Argatroban Quantification by UPLC/MS/MS. Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry, AACC. 2009

Molinaro RJ, Ritchie JC. Iothalamate Quantification by LC/MS/MS. Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry, AACC. 2009

Books Edited and Written -

Editor, ASCP Review Book for Medical Technology

Co-Editor, Directory of Rare Analysis (DORA) of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry

Other Publications -

Molinaro RJ. Primary Author for the College of American Pathologists Online Competency Testing Program for Clinical Chemistry. July 2007 - Liver and Renal Testing

Molinaro RJ. Primary Author for the College of American Pathologists Online Competency Testing Program for Clinical Chemistry. October 2006 - Acid-base, Anion Gap, and Electrolyte Testing