Donald A. Primerano

Biography

In the Appalachian Center for Cellular transport in Obesity Related Disorders (ACCORD) COBRE application, focused on cellular transport of obesity related disorders, the primary goal of the GABC will be to support the genomic research goals of the ACCORD project investigators. The GABC provides the following services: (1) high throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) to support RNA-Seq, whole exome, whole genome, microbiome and methylation studies, (2) bioinformatic and experimental design support for NGS projects, (3) automated Sanger DNA sequencing and RNA/DNA quality assessment, (4) access to critical shared instruments including real-time thermal cyclers, a Luminex 200 system, a Protein Simple Fluorimeter and a Spectramax plate reader and (5) workshops on next generation sequencing methods and bioinformatics methods central to COBRE research projects. COBRE projects will be given priority status to ensure timely completion. My primary research interests are in the discovery of disease susceptibility genes/profiles using next generation sequencing, expression profiling and bioinformatic approaches. I also currently serve as the Co-Director of the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility (GABC) and as a member of the WV-IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE) Administrative Core and WV Cancer Genomics Steering Committee. I served as the Genomics Core Director from 1999-2011 and Co-Director of the GABC from 2011 to the present. As GABC Co-Director, I have experience in (1) developing sequencing strategies and service relationships between the GABC and research networks needing genomic analyses, (2) providing overall direction to a core with evolving technologies and institutional responsibilities, (3) assisting individual investigators in designing genomic experiments and (4) providing training in genomic technologies. During the period from 1999 to the present, the GABC has successfully supported the goals of the several funded programs: WV-BRIN, WV-INBRE Phase I, WV-INBRE phase II, COBRE Transcription Factors and Cancer, and the WV Cancer Genomics Network. Under my direction, the GABC has launched next generation sequencing as a state-wide service and completed several NGS projects including microbiome, RNA-Seq, whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing. These experiences and accomplishments will enable GABC staff to design RNA-Seq and other genomic studies to support the research objectives of projects within this COBRE application. The following publications illustrate the roles of the GABC in genomic analyses.

Research Interest

Discovery of chronic disease susceptibility genes using next generation sequencing, expression profiling and bioinformatics approaches