About

Us

We are Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub

The team at Forensic Genomic Innovation Hub strive to deliver a professional approach in producing accurate test results timeously, a commitment to a high work ethic and to communicate effectively with clients and partners in the provision of services and confident resolution of problems or issues that may arise.

Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub aims to transform the use of DNA in forensic science with the provision of next generation sequencing technology, already well respected in the clinical genetics market, to researchers, academia and the criminal justice system. A “proof of concept / centre of excellence” facility where projects and mutually beneficial partnerships produce foundational research that will lead to innovations and deployable solutions in the future.

Being innovative, Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub is both creative and adaptable, with a willingness to develop new ideas and provide both winning solutions and positive outcomes. No longer will DNA be an adjunct to crime-fighting but a proactive intelligence tool.

The team

Dr Mick Forder

CEO

  • MB, ChB 1981 (University of Cape Town)
  • M Med (Anatomical Pathology) 1991 (University of Cape Town)
  • Diploma in Forensic Medicine 1992 (University of Cape Town)
After qualifying in 1981, Dr Forder rotated through General Surgery and Anaesthetics before working as a Medical Officer. He returned to the University of Cape Town/Groote Schuur Hospital and qualified in Anatomical Pathology in 1991. Having a particular interest in Forensic Medicine, he joined the Department of Forensic Medicine, completing his Diploma in 1992. He worked as a Consultant in this Department, attending crime scene investigations and being called on as an expert witness in court hearings.

Dr Forder is also currently the CEO of the Ampath Laboratories in South Africa, of which Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub is a division. Dr Forder’s extensive experience in private pathology, Anatomical Pathology and Forensic Medicine enable him to fill this role with confidence.

Grant Parker

COO

An entrepreneur by nature, Grant has established several business entities in the healthcare arena. These include eight retail pharmacies and several companies responsible for the distribution of surgical and medical devices. Over fifteen years of senior management experience in hospital management and as Chief Operations Officer of a large listed healthcare company distributing pharmaceutical products, medical devices and vaccines. Responsibilities included finance, sales, procurement, marketing, human resource development, commercial and legal negotiations across a wide spectrum of healthcare markets.

Caroline Turner, PhD

CSO

  • PhD 1999 (Human Genetics) (University of Southampton)
  • B.Med.Sc 1995 (Cellular and Molecular Pathology) (University of Birmingham)
After completing her PhD in human genetics Caroline spent the next 5 years in the forensic DNA community with Promega Corporation as a Genetic Identity Specialist, supporting the EMEA region. After relocating to South Africa in 2004, where she remained until 2017 before returning home to the UK, Caroline gained extensive experience in the human identification and clinical human molecular genetics field in the private pathology sector. Since returning to the UK she has focused on bringing together that experience gained from clinical genomics and human identification, and Founder of Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub.

Rebecca Schutt, PhD

Senior Scientist

  •  PhD (Molecular Anthropology) 2008 (University of Göttingen)
  • Diploma (Biology) 2005 (University of Göttingen)
After finishing her PhD in Molecular Anthropology, Rebecca started working as a Post-Doc at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Kiel/Germany. Her focus was on research in the field of Molecular Anthropology especially human remains of the neolithic era. During that period she started analyzing more and more forensic DNA samples and developed her skills in forensic genomics. She became a forensic DNA-expert and worked for the state criminal police agencies in Lower Saxony and Berlin. She now joined Forensic Genomics Innovation Hub with great enthusiasm.

Dr Janin Alant

Associate Pathologist

  • MBChB
  • MMed Haem
  • FC Path (SA) Haem
Dr Janin Alant completed her undergraduate medical studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 2008. Enthralled by the world of Haematology Genomics, she went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Haematopathology in 2017 and she is currently enrolled in a Postgraduate Certificate in Genomic Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Her main areas of interest are translational genomic medicine and chimerism profiling.

Dr Craig Corcoran

Associate Clinical Virologist

  • MB ChB 1998 (University of Cape Town)
  • FC Path SA 2005 (Colleges of Medicine South Africa)
  • M Med Path (Clinical Virology) 2006 (University of Cape Town)
  • Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2007 (University of the Witwatersrand)

Dr Corcoran completed his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 1998. He returned shortly thereafter to specialise in Clinical Virology and qualified in 2005.  He remained at Groote Schuur Hospital until 2009 when he joined Ampath Laboratories as a Clinical Virologist in Gauteng.

Dr Corcoran was the Head of Ampath’s Molecular Biology laboratory for several years and has a specific interest in molecular infectious diseases diagnostics. He is currently the managing pathologist of Ampath’s National Reference Laboratory which is based in Centurion, South Africa.

Trudi van der Merwe

Total Quality Manager

  • National Diploma Medical Technology – Chem Path II (Tshwane University of Technology)
  • Higher Diploma in Business management (Damlin)
  • Program in Total Quality Management (71838) (Unisa)

After working as medical technologist in the laboratory in the disciplines of Chemistry, Endocrinology and Immunology/Serology, for twenty years, Trudi moved to the quality management department.

She has more than twenty years of experience in Quality and SHE management, and possesses experience and knowledge of requirements and implementation of ISO standards and OSH act and relevant regulations. Trudi is qualified as a SANAS Team leader performing assessments on behalf of SANAS at medical laboratories.

Trudi is currently the Total Quality manager of Ampath. Delegated by Ampath, she represents the company on SABS TC 212 committee, with frequent communication and exposure to National and International standard requirements and implementation. She is a member of the ISO TC 212 Work group 1 committee and actively involved in the review of relevant standards. She is also Liaison of SABS TC 212 committee to the SABS TC 003 committee and member of the Work group 57 and involved with review of the relevant standards relevant to this working group.

Dr Craig Corcoran

Associate Clinical Virologist

  • MB ChB 1998 (University of Cape Town)
  • FC Path SA 2005 (Colleges of Medicine South Africa)
  • M Med Path (Clinical Virology) 2006 (University of Cape Town)
  • Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2007 (University of the Witwatersrand)

Dr Corcoran completed his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 1998. He returned shortly thereafter to specialise in Clinical Virology and qualified in 2005.  He remained at Groote Schuur Hospital until 2009 when he joined Ampath Laboratories as a Clinical Virologist in Gauteng.

Dr Corcoran was the Head of Ampath’s Molecular Biology laboratory for several years and has a specific interest in molecular infectious diseases diagnostics. He is currently the managing pathologist of Ampath’s National Reference Laboratory which is based in Centurion, South Africa.