John D. McPherson

John D. McPherson, Ph.D.
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

Prior to joining the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research as Director, Genome Technologies, Dr. McPherson’s career spanned three Genome Centers. Shortly after completing post-doctoral studies at the University of California, Irvine he attained a faculty position and established, as Co-Director, the National Human Genome Research Center Chromosome 5 Genome Center (1993-1996). The UCI Genome Center constructed a physical map of human chromosome 5 in preparation for complete human genome sequencing. In addition, he participated in a number of collaborative positional cloning efforts associated with this chromosome including an international consortium to identify the gene responsible for spinal muscular atrophy. Dr. McPherson then relocated to the Washington University Genome Sequencing Center (GSC, 1996-2003) where as Co-Director he played a significant role in the Human Genome Project and was the lead author on the human genome physical map manuscript. During this time his group pioneered many large-scale mapping and sequencing technologies. He was the lead Principal Investigator for the GSC contribution to the mouse genome and oversaw the initial mapping of the chicken genome. As the Genome Centers took on a wide variety of genomes spanning the Tree of Life, Dr. McPherson chose to remain closer to his human genome research roots and accepted an offer to join the Human Genome Sequencing Center at the Baylor College of Medicine (2003-2007). There he established a high-throughput resequencing pipeline with a peak capacity of one million sequences per month of PCR amplified gene targets. The primary objective of this pipeline was the sequencing of all ion channel genes (~250) in 500 sporadic epilepsy patients and controls. This study is still ongoing. This pipeline was also used to examine lung adenocarcinomas and glioblastomas as part of trans Genome Center collaborations, the Tumor Sequencing Project and the Cancer Genome Atlas, respectively. Also during his tenure at BCM-HGSC, he directed a large-scale RT-PCR cDNA cloning effort that contributed ~6,000 human and mouse clones to the Mammalian Gene Collection. Collectively these activities have made significant contributions to the availability of methodologies and accessible data sets that have benefited countless researchers around the world.
At the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research as Director, Genome Technologies, Dr. McPherson has assembled and trained a team and established a high-throughput sequencing platform with a current fleet of 16 next-generation sequencers. As in past endeavours, this group will be a community leader in innovation. As a founding member of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the OICR will generate a complete catalogue of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in 375 pancreatic tumors. Dr. McPherson is the Program Director for this OICR ICGC effort.
Appointments:

Director, Genome Technologies: Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, July 2007 ? present.
Professor: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, October 2010 - present
Associate Professor: Baylor College of Medicine, May 2003 to June 2007.
Tenure granted October 2003.
Primary appointment: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Joint appointment: Human Genome Sequencing Center
Associate Professor: Washington University School of Medicine, July 2000 to April 2003.
Tenure granted October 2000.
Primary appointment: Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Genetics
Joint appointment: Genome Sequencing Center
Assistant Professor: Washington University School of Medicine, December 1995 to June 2000
Co-Director, Genome Sequencing Center: Washington University School of Medicine, December 1999 to April 2003 (Assistant Director, December 1996 ? November 1999).
Assistant Professor: University of California at Irvine, October 1994 to December 1995.
Primary appointment: Department of Biological Chemistry.
Joint appointment: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Co-Director, National Human Genome Research Center at UCI: University of California at Irvine, October, 1993 to 1996.
Assistant Researcher: University of California at Irvine, March 1992 to September 1994.
Postdoctoral Fellow: University of California at Irvine, February 1990 to February 1992.
Principle investigator: Dr. J.J. Wasmuth, Ph.D., Department of Biological Chemistry.
Postdoctoral Fellow: University of California at Irvine, March 1988 to January 1990.
Principle investigator: Dr. M. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics.

Selected recent publications:

1. The International Cancer genome Consortium (2010). International Network of Cancer Genome Projects. Nature 465: 993-998 . (PA)
2. Diamandis E, Voelkerding K, Drmanac R, Agus D, McPherson J (2009). Next-Generation Sequencing: A New Revolution in Molecular Diagnostics? Clin. Chem. 55: 1-5. (Co-PA)
3. McPherson JD (2009). Next-Generation Gap. Nature Meth. Supplement, Next-generation sequencing data analysis. Volume 6, No.11s:S2-S5. (SRA)
4. Korshunova Y, Maloney RK, Lakey N, Citek RW, Bacher B, Budiman A, Ordway JM, McCombie WR, Leon J, Jeddeloh JA, McPherson JD. Massively parallel bisulphate pyrosequencing reveals the molecular complexity of breast cancer associated cytosine methylation patterns obtained from tissue and serum DNA. Genome Res. 18:19-29 (2008).
5. Ordway JM, Budiman MA, Korshunova Y, Maloney RK, Bedell JA, Citek RW, Bacher B, Peterson S, Rohlfing T, Hall J, Brown R, Lakey N, Doerge RW, Martienssen RA, Leon J, McPherson JD, Jeddeloh JA. Identification of novel high-frequency DNA methylation changes in breast cancer. PLoS One 2:e1314 (2007).