NATIONAL MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY DIAGNOSTICS USER GROUP
OUR ORGANIZATION
The group was formed in March 2006 at the Annual AMMI Canada – CACMID Meeting with the following goals:
Develop an integrated national network of clinical microbiology laboratory experts to support molecular diagnostics by collaboration and communication through discussion groups and an annual fall meeting.
Make recommendations, set guidelines and develop proficiency and policy regarding molecular microbiology testing.
Develop processes for sharing methods, specimens, data and information.
Benefits envisioned by NMG include:
Clinical molecular diagnostics method development, method troubleshooting, and method discussion and evaluation.
Reduced duplication of effort.
Enhanced support for laboratories through enhanced collaboration.
Enhanced connectivity through collaboration.
Progress for standardization and proficiency in clinical molecular diagnostics.
Collaborative efforts to establish a proficiency program.
Assist each other with validation (specimens and expert advice).
Advise on standardization of quality control in Quality assurance programs for molecular diagnostics.
2026 BOARD
President and Chair
Danielle Brabant-Kirwan, PhD, FCCM, D(ABMM)
Clinical Microbiologist
Health Sciences North - Horizon Santé-Nord
Email: dbrabantkirwan@hsnsudbury.ca
Past President and Chair
Anita Wong, MSc, MLT
Laboratory Scientist I
Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab)
Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL)
Past President and Chair
Henry Wong, PhD
Clinical Assay Development Scientist, Clinical Laboratories
Kingston General Hospital
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Queen’s University
Kingston
Email: henry.wong@kingstonhsc.ca
Meeting Chair
Aaron Campigotto, MD
Medical Microbiologist, Dept. of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine
Hospital for Sick Children
Email: aaron.campigotto@sickkids.ca
NML Liaison
Christine Mesa
Head, Reference and Diagnostic Services,
Division of Enteric Diseases
National Microbiology Laboratory
Public Health Agency of Canada
Financial Officer
Dinesh M. Fernando, MSc, PhD
Technical Specialist, Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics
Trillium Health Partners Credit Valley Hospital
Secretary
Natalie Prystajecky, PhD
Environmental Microbiologist,
BC Centre for Disease Control | Public Health Laboratory
Provincial Health Services Authority
Email: natalie.prystajecky@bccdc.ca
Webmaster
Benjamin Hon, MSc.
Section Coordinator, Genomics Core Lab
BC Centre for Disease Control
Public Health Laboratory | Provincial Health Services Authority
Email: benjamin.hon@bccdc.ca
Councillor
Ellen G. Avery, MSc., Dr. rer. nat., FCCM
Clinical Microbiologist, Division of Microbiology
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Queen’s University
Email: ellen.avery@KingstonHSC.ca
Councillor
Ramzi Fattouh, PhD, FCCM
Clinical Microbiologist
Unity Health Toronto
Email: ramzi.fattouh@unityhealth.to
Councilor
M Rubayet Hasan, PhD, D(ABMM), FCCM
Clinical Microbiologist
Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program (HRLMP)
Associate Professor, Dept of Pathology and Molecular Medicine,, McMaster University
E-mail: hasanm51@mcmaster.ca
Councilor
Julie Lee, HBSc, MLT
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Kingston Public Health Laboratory
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion
Public Health Ontario
Email: julie.x.lee@oahpp.ca
Councillor
Tarah Lynch, PhD
Program Lead – Genomics and Bioinformatics
Alberta Precision Labs, Public Health Laboratory
Councillor
Ninad Mehta PhD., D(ABMM), FCCM
Clinical Microbiologist, Division Head of Pre-Analytics and Phlebotomy
Saskatchewan Health Authority
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Councillor
Neil Rau
Infectious Diseases Specialist and Medical Microbiologist
Halton Healthcare, Oakville ON
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Email: Nrau@haltonhealthcare.com