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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 | Associate 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. Marco Scarpetta | Associate Laboratory Director
Marco Scarpetta, Ph.D. joined DDC in 2009. He has been in the field of human identity testing for 15 years, and has experience in both forensic casework and paternity. He is active in the aaBB, the governing body of paternity testing. He has been involved in several high profile cases on both the forensic and paternity sides of DNA testing, and he has reviewed well over 200,000 paternity 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. Richard Chmelo | Research Scientist
Dr. Richard Chmelo, a genetics and molecular biology expert, joined the DDC team in March of 2011 to spearhead the Company's expanded research and development efforts for the creation of groundbreaking new DNA tests.
He has more than 25 years experience with genetic test development and implementation. He has been recognized for the successful development, validation and launch of numerous products, assays and SNP-based genetic panels.
More about Dr. Richard Chmelo
Dr. Chmelo obtained his Ph.D. degree in Genetics from West Virginia University. Most recently, Dr. Chmelo worked at CyGene Laboratories, in Coral Springs, Florida as the Director of Genetic Profiling Services where he developed, validated, implemented, and launched numerous SNP panels and assays for personal genetics.
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