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The Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Laboratory at Fairfax Diagnostics was established as one of the first, and currently is one of the most experienced PGT laboratories in the world in conjunction with the Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF). Founded in 1992, we performed our first clinical cycle in March 1993 and have performed thousands of PGT cycles for hundreds of patients at GIVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) centers around the world. Today, thanks to our amazing lab team, Fairfax Diagnostics offers a comprehensive test menu and is committed to providing you with quality diagnostics, accurate results, and timely, dependable turn-around.
Our accomplished Laboratory and Medical Directors alone have over 50 combined years of experience in assisted reproductive technology at Fairfax Diagnostics.
Laboratory Director
Medical Director
Assistant Laboratory Director
PGT Business Development Specialist
Senior Research Scientist
Genetic Counseling Director
To get started with PGT at Fairfax Diagnostics contact us today.
Brian D Mariani, PhD, is a Stanford University educated and Harvard University trained molecular biologist and serves as Chief Scientist, Scientific Director, and Laboratory Director of Molecular Diagnostics and Preimplantation Genetic Testing Program at Fairfax Diagnostics Division. His PhD research, completed at Stanford in the Department of Biological Sciences, focused on the role of the cell cycle and cancer development. Following his PhD, Dr. Mariani received a Jane Coffin Childs Fellowship to study molecular genetics at the Harvard Department of Cellular and Development Biology. This work focused on how the expression of genetic information is regulated during development and cellular differentiation.
Dr. Mariani then served on the faculty of the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in the Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. His research involved the molecular basis of embryogenesis, particularly the genetic regulation of pattern formation and skeletal development in the early vertebrate embryo. Additional studies by Dr. Mariani at Jefferson involved pioneering advancements in the molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Dr. Mariani joined Fairfax Diagnostics in 1998 and established the Molecular Infectious Disease Laboratory where he still serves as director today. Additionally, with his expertise in molecular genetics and assay development, Dr. Mariani also became Director of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Laboratory in 2010. In this context, he is focused on the application of genomic technology for the improved detection of genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities in IVF generated embryos. The lab, using a combination of state-of-the-art molecular methods, designs customized, patient-specific preimplantation genetic protocols to meet the clinical needs of the IVF community. Dr. Mariani and the PGD team take pride in successfully developing molecular approaches to address some of the most technically difficult and challenging genetic disorders, providing hope for at-risk couples and a pathway leading to the birth of healthy children.
Harvey J. Stern, MD, PhD, FACMG joined the Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF) in 1995 and is the Medical Director of Reproductive Genetics, the Fetal Diagnostics Center, and Fairfax Diagnostics Division. Dr. Stern has extensive experience in prenatal genetic diagnosis and in the evaluation of congenital malformations in the fetus. He is the primary physician involved in providing amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, first-trimester screening, and ultrasound for the prenatal genetics program at GIVF. Dr. Stern provides pre-and post-conception genetic counseling for patients interested in knowing their risks for a child with a genetic disorder, or discussing a genetic condition known to be in a patient’s family. He also supervises genetic screening of egg donors for Fairfax EggBank and sperm donors for Fairfax Cryobank.
Dr. Stern is the medical director of Fairfax Cryobank and of the preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) program for Fairfax Diagnostics Division. Dr. Stern also oversees the GIVF endocrinology laboratory.
Veronica Novik, Ph.D. is Assistant Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Fairfax Diagnostics Division. Veronica received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Yale University in 2008 studying the virulence mechanisms that bacteria employ during infection process. Her interest led to the identification and functional characterization of novel genes that mediate the interaction of Campylobacter jejuni, the major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, with human host cells. That work led to the development of an animal colonization model to study C. jejuni infection that contributed towards a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this important human pathogen. Veronica Novik also holds a BS from Belorussian State University with a major in Genetics and Biotechnology (1995).
After coming to Fairfax Diagnostics, Veronica has been the coordinator of the PGT program managing the critical interaction between the laboratory, embryology, physicians, and clinical genetics staff to ensure a seamless and accurate clinical process for our patients. In this capacity, Veronica is responsible for reviewing and cataloging all 24-chromosme analyses with respect to clinical correlation and outcome. As a team, all PGT data is analyzed and documented for aneuploidy, mosaicism, and segmental aberrations with respect to patient medical history and pregnancy success. Her technical expertise in molecular methods has also contributed greatly to test design and validation for the infectious disease program.
Yinka Kalejaiye specializes in business development for the Preimplantation Genetic Testing Laboratory at Fairfax Diagnostics drawing from an array of experience in research and development supporting molecular diagnostic testing; healthcare management; and human anatomy and physiology instruction at the collegiate level. With a master’s in forensic molecular biology from Drexel University’s College of Medicine in 2008, and bachelor’s in biology from the University of Virginia in 2006, he is uniquely qualified to inform and support clinicians and embryologists on many technical aspects of the PGT assay.
Utilizing his teaching background, Yinka leverages an instructive approach when communicating the benefits of partnering with Fairfax Diagnostics for genetic testing. He focuses on informing providers and forging relationships with them through technical presentations, clinic outreach and client visits. Yinka also serves as liaison for the lab team at Fairfax and our partnering IVF clinics. As a primary point of contact, he facilitates the partnering process with the goal of understanding the clinic’s needs and offering a customized experience for providers and their patients. Yinka joined the PGT Lab in April of 2022 and was formerly a member of the Fairfax EggBank Lab team.
Khoa D. Tran is a Senior Research Scientist with over 16 years of research and clinical experience applying molecular diagnostics to the fields of reproductive genetics and infectious diseases. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a Master of Science degree, received in 2014. His thesis focused on the technical integration and clinical application of mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction and chromosomal microarray analysis for the detection of unaffected euploid embryos from couples at risk for genetic disease undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.
He currently leads assay development, validation, and clinical integration for the Preimplantation Genetic Testing Laboratory and the Molecular Infectious Disease Laboratory. He works closely with the Laboratory Director, Brian Mariani, Ph.D., in molecular assay design and validation of protocols for gene-specific mutations. He has extensive experience with molecular laboratory techniques, including SNP and whole genome microarrays, as well as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Khoa has been with the Genetics & IVF Institute since 2005, presently serving as a Senior Research Scientist and Project Lead on all molecular preimplantation genetic testing strategies.
Rawan Awwad, MS, CGC is a board certified and multi-state licensed genetic counselor with expertise and passion in the preconception, fertility, and assisted reproductive technology space. She joined GIVF in 2022 as a Genetic Counseling Director after almost two decades of clinical and industry experience, primarily in reproductive and pediatric genetics. Rawan leads the genetic counseling services for Fairfax Diagnostics and Fairfax EggBank by sharing her expertise in assessing genetic test results and family histories of genetic and multifactorial conditions to help clients understand potential risks. Within Fairfax Diagnostics, Rawan provides clinical support to patients and providers for our full suite of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) products, including PGT-M, PGT-A, and PGT-SR.
Rawan earned her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Minnesota in 2006 and has a prior Master of Science degree in Genome Science and Technology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2001). She is an active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. She is a co-author of several publications on specialized topics in genetic counseling and presented several talks and posters at national conferences.”