Pathology Faculty Member

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  • Contact Information:

    Emory University Hospital Midtown
    1239 Davis Fischer Building
    Atlanta, GA, 30308
    404-686-1913 Phone

    For an expert Pathology consultation,
    or to send a specimen, call:

    1-404-712-5947


    Ross J. Molinaro, PhD

    Clinical Chemistry
    Molecular Medicine

    Assistant Professor
    Pathology & Laboratory Medicine


    Pathology Faculty Photo

    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:

    - Emory Clinical Translational Research Laboratory (ECTRL)
    ECTRL is a CLIA certified laboratory. The focus of ECTRL is the development of clinical based laboratory testing methods, clinical utility examination, clinical trial laboratory testing, routine and special laboratory method development, and clinical laboratory 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/Proteomic Biomarkers and Mass Spectrometry
    Our laboratory uses cDNA microarray based and mass spectrometry methods to investigate genomic and proteomic biomarkers of disease, including diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and transplant rejection. In addition, we develop mass spectrometry methods for small molecule quantitation and pharmacokinetic studies. Specifically, we are interested in anticoagulant, chemotherapeutic, and pain management testing and monitoring by mass spectrometry.



    Clinical Focus:

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


    Honors / Awards:

    Emory University Research Committee Award, 2010

    American Association of Clinical Chemistry Outstanding Speaker Award, 2009

    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

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

    American Association of Clinical Chemistry Student Travel Grant, 2008

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

    Bolliger D, Szlam F, Levy JH, Molinaro RJ, Tanaka KA. Haemodilution-induced profibrinolytic state is mitigated by fresh-frozen plasma: implications for early haemostatic intervention in massive haemorrhage. Br J Anaesth. 2010 Mar;104(3):318-25. Epub 2010 Feb 3.


    Stowell SR, Arthur CM, Dias-Baruffi M, Rodrigues LC, Gourdine JP, Heimburg-Molinaro J, Ju T, Molinaro RJ, Rivera-Marrero C, Xia B, Smith DF, Cummings RD. Innate immune lectins kill bacteria expressing blood group antigen. Nat Med. 2010 Mar;16(3):295-301. Epub 2010 Feb 14.


    Arnold RS, Makarova NV, Osunkoya AO, Suppiah S, Scott TA, Johnson NA, Bhosle SM, Liotta D, Hunter E, Marshall FF, Ly H, Molinaro RJ, Blackwell JL, Petros JA. XMRV infection in patients with prostate cancer: novel serologic assay and correlation with PCR and FISH. Urology. 2010 Apr;75(4):755-61.


    Bolliger D, Szlam F, Azran M, Koyama K, Levy JH, Molinaro RJ, Tanaka KA. The anticoagulant effect of protamine sulfate is attenuated in the presence of platelets or elevated factor VIII concentrations. Anesth Analg. 2010 Sep;111(3):601-8. Epub 2010 Aug 4.


    Bhosle S, Suppiah S, Molinaro R, Liang Y, Arnold R, Diehl W, Makarova N, Blackwell J, Petros J, Liotta D, Hunter E, Ly H. Evaluation of cellular determinants required for in vitro XMRV entry of human prostate cancer and non-cancerous cells. J Virol. 2010 Apr 21.


    Bolliger D, Szlam F, Molinaro RJ, Escobar MA, Levy JH, Tanaka KA. Thrombin generation and fibrinolysis in anti-factor IX treated blood and plasma spiked with factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity or recombinant factor VIIa. Haemophilia. 2009 Dec 29.


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


    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.


    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. Methods Mol Biol. 2010;603:57-63.


    Molinaro RJ, Ritchie JC. Iothalamate Quantification by LC/MS/MS. Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol. 2010;603:307-15.


    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