Our Team
The team at Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) is made up of several dedicated clinical, laboratory, and administrative staff.
Leadership Team
Executive Director & Chief Medical Officer
Pranesh Chakraborty, MD, FRCPC, FCCMG
Dr. Chakraborty is a physician certified by the Royal College in Medical Biochemistry and Pediatrics, with a subspecialty in Biochemical Genetics. He joined CHEO in 2003 as a clinician seeing patients with Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM). In 2006 he led the transition of Ontario’s newborn screening program to Ottawa leading to the establishment of Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) at CHEO. In 2008 he was instrumental in the founding of the Better Outcomes Registry and Network (BORN Ontario) at CHEO as a prescribed registry in Ontario. Finally, he is a Principal Investigator for the Canadian Inherited Metabolic Disease Research Network which recently was awarded a $1.5M CIHR Emerging Teams grant for rare disease research. Throughout his career, he has been involved in clinical and translational research related to IEM.
Laboratory Head of Biochemistry and Point of Care Screening
Matthew P.A. Henderson, PhD, FCACB, FCCMG
Matthew Henderson is a Laboratory Head and Biochemist at Newborn Screening Ontario and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa. He is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists with a subspecialty in Laboratory Biochemical Genetics. His work is focused on improving the accuracy and efficiency of newborn screening through both development and optimization of biochemical assays as well as development of data analysis approaches and tools.
Laboratory Head of Inherited Metabolic Diseases Laboratory
Nathalie Lepage, PhD, FCACB, FCCMG
Dr Lepage is a full professor in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Ottawa, Canada. She is a fellow from the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (CACB) and a fellow from the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists. Dr Lepage has served as a leader (president and/or chair) of several provincial, national and international professional associations, including the Ontario Society of Clinical Chemists, the Canadian Academy of Clinical Chemistry (CACB) and the Pediatric and Maternal-Fetal Division of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC). She has received the CACB Award for Outstanding Service to the profession of Clinical Biochemistry and the Mentor of the Month Award from the AACC. Her current areas of clinical and research interests are in pediatric metabolic diseases, in pediatric reference intervals, and in laboratory management.
Executive Director
Jennifer Milburn, MHA
Jennifer Milburn has been with the team since December 2005, originally as the Business Systems Analyst responsible for the development and implementation of the Newborn Screening Laboratory Information System (LIS). She assumed the role of Manager of NSO in January 2008, and became Director in 2015. She is responsible for the daily operations of the program, risk and resource management, program evaluation, and any special projects or quality improvement initiatives. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Biology and Biotechnology from Carleton University and a Master of Health Laboratory Head of Molecular Genetics LaboratoryAdministration degree from the University of Ottawa.
Laboratory Head of Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Kristin Kernohan, PhD, FCCMG
Kristin Kernohan completed her HB.Sc, Honours specialization in Genetics and Ph.D in Biochemistry at the University of Western Ontario. After graduate school she completed a post-doctoral fellowship with Care4Rare and CCMG training at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario before joining NSO in 2018. Dr. Kernohan is certified by the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists. Her research interests include the identification of new disease genes and developmental of new technologies for molecular diagnostics.
Quality Coordinator
Christine McRoberts, MLT, CLQM
Christine McRoberts is the Quality Coordinator for NSO. She is a member of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario and has over 28 years experience in in both clinical and research labs.
For matters of quality, Christine may be reached at 613 738 3222 ext 1040 or cmcroberts@cheo.on.ca.
Medical Advisor
Michael T. Geraghty, MB, MSc, MRCPI, FACMG, FRCPC, FCCMG
Dr. Geraghty obtained his medical degree at University College Dublin, Ireland, and his MSc in Medical Genetics at Trinity College, Dublin. He did his Paediatrics training in Dublin, Ireland and completed a Fellowship in Medical Genetics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1988-92.
He remained at Johns Hopkins as an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics and became the Clinical Director of the McKusick-Nathans Institutes of Medical Genetics, Johns Hopkins (1992-2002). Dr. Geraghty came to Ottawa in 2002 and set up the Genetic Metabolic Program.
Clinical Team
The Clinical Team consist of genetic counsellors, a clinical coordinator and clinical content specialists. They participate in program operations and various education, communications and strategic projects.
For questions about a screen positive result or clinical concern about a baby, please contact the genetic counsellors at 613 738 3222 ext 1045.
Laboratory Professionals
Medical Laboratory Technologists
To practice in Ontario, Medical Laboratory Technologists at Newborn Screening Ontario must successfully write the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science certification exam and be an active member of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario. The Newborn Screening team is currently comprised of nine technologists.
NSO employs a variety of sophisticated instruments to carry out the analytical assays including mass spectrometry, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and fluorometry. The technologists are responsible for sample analysis and resulting, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting and the performance of quality assurance practices within the lab. Technologists are also involved in the research and development of new assays and instrumentation.
Medical Laboratory Technicians
The Medical Laboratory Technicians at Newborn Screening Ontario are responsible for the preanalytical processing of samples and for providing support to the technologists and other NSO team members to ensure the smooth functioning of the laboratory. The team is comprised of six technicians, each of whom brings with them an extensive background from various laboratory settings.
Administrative Support
They provide administrative support for the leadership team and the operations of the department, which includes coordinating special projects, symposiums and much more. They can be reached through the main NSO line at 613-738-3222.
Data Management Team
The Data Management Team’s main responsibilities include data entry and validation; verification of incomplete information through referring hospitals and midwives; sending out reports, faxing, filing and archiving requisitions.
If you are requesting an amended report please call 613-738-3222 ext 3180.