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Dr. Michael Baird | Laboratory Director
Dr. Baird has decades of experience in the field of DNA testing. In 1982, he was at the forefront of DNA testing as part of a team that pioneered DNA identity testing, eventually offering it on a commercial scale. In 1987, he was the first DNA expert to testify in a U.S. court case and has since testified in hundreds of court cases involving DNA and forensics. In 2007, Dr. Baird was appointed by the courts as the DNA expert in the paternity case involving Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannielynn.
More about Dr. Michael Baird
Dr. Baird has written and published numerous articles and manuscripts in the field of DNA technology, paternity testing, and forensics. He has appeared on several national TV shows that featured DNA testing. NBC News hired him as their on-air DNA expert during the OJ Simpson trial. He has also been interviewed on Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, Court TV, and others.
An active member of the AABB for over 20 years, Dr. Baird is the current chair of the Relationship Testing Standards Program Unit. He is in charge of rewriting the Standards for Relationship Testing Laboratories, 9th Edition, which will become effective in January 2010.
Dr. Thomas Reid | Laboratory Director
Dr. Reid is DDC's primary technical expert for cases involving unusual or complex family relationships. He specializes in extended DNA testing such as genetic reconstruction and siblingship studies. In April of 2006, his expertise was called upon to lend his expertise in the effort to perform genetic reconstruction analysis to help identify victims of the hurricane Katrina.
More about Dr. Thomas Reid
Dr. Reid obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, specializing in molecular biology. Before joining DDC he worked at the Centers for Disease Control, investigating the effects of carcinogens on DNA. He has been with DDC since 2000 and has led several laboratory research projects, including developing more STR markers to add to DDC's testing battery for unusual and difficult DNA cases.
Dr. Julie Heinig | Assistant Laboratory Director
Dr. Heinig is in charge of the forensic laboratory operations at DNA Diagnostics Center. She performs DNA testing on crime scene evidence for DDC Forensics. Dr. Heinig designed and prepared DDC's forensic laboratory for accreditations by the prestigious FQS-I (Forensic Quality Services-International)/ISO IEC17025 and ASCLD/LAB-International, setting up the laboratory policies and procedures and performing validation studies.
More about Dr. Julie Heinig
Before joining DDC, Dr. Heinig spent 4 years as a Senior Forensic Scientist/DNA Analyst at the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office, where she performed testing on the highly publicized Dr. Sam Sheppard case. Dr. Heinig has appeared as an expert in a number of court cases testifying on her own casework and that of other scientists. She has extensive experience in processing crime scenes.
Dr. Heinig is an experienced lecturer, having hosted seminars and given lectures at the Coroner's office and offsite to various groups including attorneys, physicians and universities. She has also conducted crime scene evidence collection workshops for law enforcement agencies.
Dr. Melissa Kahsar | Assistant Laboratory Director
Dr. Kahsar received her PhD in Medical Genetics in 1999 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has published many scientific papers in this field, including studies in the inheritance and molecular genetic aspects of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In her postdoctoral research, she studied genetic association between in utero exposure to Dilantin, a common drug used to control epilepsy, and cleft lip/cleft palate.
More about Dr. Melissa Kahsar
Dr. Kahsar has been conducting paternity and identity testing since 2001, initially at the Indiana University Medical Center's Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory in Indianapolis. In this facility, she also conducted bone marrow transplant monitoring and molecular diagnostic testing for genetic diseases, including Fragile X Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Angelman Syndrome.
At DDC, Dr. Kahsar reviews data, signs out reports, and provides expert testimony. She is also involved with the development of DNA testing protocols at DDC for unusual and/or degraded samples. She works closely with the Laboratory Manager to ensure that the Laboratory is adhering to the quality standards dictated by the agencies from which we receive our accreditations, including the AABB and CAP.
Dr. Keen Wilson | Assistant Laboratory Director
Dr. Wilson received his PhD in 2003 from Indiana University in the area of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Georgia. His previous research includes study in the evolutionary developmental biology of the sea urchin, and the evolutionary and developmental biology of mammalian and marine pharyngeal structure.
More about Dr. Keen Wilson
At DDC, Dr. Wilson reviews cases and is responsible for monitoring the daily progress of cases, ensuring that all results are signed out of the laboratory according to the laboratory deadline. Dr. Wilson also conducts research and development of additional STR marker sets to help resolve difficult family relationship cases.
Dr. Pierig Lepont | Assistant Laboratory Director
Dr. Lepont earned his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from Iowa State University in 2002. Before coming to work for DDC, Dr. Lepont served as a Research Associate at the University of Cincinnati. He earned his Master of Science and Technology in Biochemical and Biological Engineering degree from Université Paris XII Val de Marne in France.
More about Dr. Pierig Lepont
Dr. Lepont spearheaded the validation of DDC's mitochondrial DNA sequencing process, which allows our laboratory to process mtDNA cases to assist in determining maternal lineages for clients. Further, this expanded capability allows our laboratory to resolve complex maternity cases. Dr. Lepont is also responsible for ensuring the accuracy of paternity cases, and he reviews paternity cases and signs out reports daily.
Dr. Leigh Hanna | Assistant Laboratory Director
Dr. Hanna received her Master's Degree in Molecular Sciences from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She then completed her doctoral dissertation in molecular microbiology at Purdue University. Dr. Hanna reviews paternity cases and also participates in research and development projects in the laboratory. She has been focusing on several new technologies for relationship testing, such as developing additional markers for extended testing and mitochondrial DNA sequencing.
More about Dr. Leigh Hanna
Dr. Hanna has played an integral role in the laboratory's recent mtDNA haplogroup project, which aims to develop and improve upon currently available markers for genealogy research. Ancestry DNA testing has been gaining attention as a "recreational DNA test" in the media, and the technology is still being continually improved and refined. DDC is actively pursuing research and development efforts in this field with the hope of offering this service.
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