Katerina Kucera

Katerina “Kate” Kucera is a Senior Newborn Screening and Genetics Laboratory Research Director. Her work focuses on translational research in genetics, genomics, and epigenetics of human disease and on implementing new laboratory and informatics technologies for genetic testing. Examples of her work in academia and industry include implementation and commercialization of patient-specific organoid technology for precision drug development and precision treatment, identification of genetic and epigenetic features related to human rare and complex diseases, chromatin structure and function of the human X chromosome, genomic imprinting, and whole-genome genotyping and sequencing to identify genes underlying disease and non-diseases traits.

At RTI, Dr. Kucera works with various public and private partners to validate the performance and feasibility of novel methodologies for newborn screening. She oversees the RTI Newborn Screening and Genetics Laboratory and works with other experts to develop pilot studies to inform public health policy and accelerate the expansion of newborn screening programs worldwide.