Dr. Norma Tavakoli

Norma Tavakoli, Ph.D. received a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and a doctoral degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Bristol, UK. Her postdoctoral research at the Wadsworth Center involved investigating transposable elements in bacteria. As the Director of Molecular Methods Development in the Clinical Virology program at the Wadsworth Center, Dr. Tavakoli developed molecular assays for the detection of viral pathogens and was involved in outbreak response. Dr. Tavakoli joined the Newborn Screening program in 2007 and has overseen the Immunoassay Laboratory since 2010. Her laboratory screens newborns for congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and cystic fibrosis. In addition, in 2019 a consented pilot study to detect Duchenne muscular dystrophy in newborns was initiated. She is a member of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Document Development committees for newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. She has worked as a consultant for the Association of Public Health Laboratories since 2010 and is an Assistant Professor at State University of NY, Albany.