Cytogenetics Laboratory

The Cytogenetics Laboratory for Partners HealthCare System is based at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  Founding hospitals are Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dana Farber Cancer Institute joined the consolidated laboratory in 1998.  All of these institutions are teaching affiliates of Harvard Medical School.

The laboratory performs chromosome analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).  Tests are routinely performed on cells prepared from chorionic villus, amniotic fluid, peripheral and cord blood, tissue, bone marrow, lymph node and solid tumor.  Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) on blastocyst-stage embryos is offered.

Cynthia C. Morton, Ph.D. is the Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory and is the William Lambert Richardson Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Morton has certification in Clinical Cytogenetics, Medical Genetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG). 

Frederick R. Bieber, Ph.D., Medical Geneticist; Associate Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics, Ph.D. Medical Genetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics

Paola Dal Cin, Ph.D., Cytogeneticist; Associate Professor of Pathology, ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics

Jonathan A. Fletcher, M.D., Cytogeneticist; Associate Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics

Anne B. S. Giersch, Ph.D., Associate Cytogeneticist; Assistant Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics

Natalia Leach, Ph.D., Associate Cytogeneticist,  Instructor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics and in Clinical Molecular Genetics

Charles Lee, Ph.D., Cytogeneticist;  Associate Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics;  Director, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Cytogenetics Core

Azra H. Ligon, Ph.D., Associate Cytogeneticist; Assistant Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics, Director, HMS ABMG Training Program in Clinical Cytogenetics

Mary McH. Sandstrom, Ph.D., Associate Cytogeneticist

Stanislawa Weremowicz, Ph.D., Associate Cytogeneticist; Assistant Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics

Sheng Xiao, M.D., Associate Cytogeneticist; Assistant Professor of Pathology; ABMG certification in Clinical Cytogenetics and Clinical Molecular Genetics

The staff's collective years of experience in cytogenetics and research interests generate a unique caliber of diagnostic value.  They are supported by a team of AGT-certified technologists.  Research and development are focused on state of the art cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic technology. 

A member of the professional staff is on call to respond to patient care issues.

To send us a specimen, please see the Specimen Requirements and Requisition pages.