• BSc, Honours in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from Western University (2014-2019)
• PhD, Genome Science and Technology from UBC (2018-2022)

• President’s Academic Excellence Initiative Award (Spring 2021, 2022) 
• UBC GSAT Exchange Grant Award Competition Winner (Spring 2019) 
• Freedom Financial 55 Athletic Leadership Award (Fall 2016)
• UWO Athletics Volleyball Athletic Scholarship (Fall 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• University Sports Academic All-Canadian Recipient (Fall 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

Dr. Hamadeh Zeid PUBMED

Selected Publications

• Hamadeh, Z., Spence, T., McGinnis. E. Nanopore long-read sequencing and applications in acute myeloid leukemia. Canadian Journal of Pathology. 2024. [in submission]
• Porter, P.L., O’Neill, K., MacLennan, S., Corbett, R.D., Ng, M., Culibrk, L., Hamadeh, Z., Iden, M., Schmidt, R., Tsaih, S.W., Chang, G., Fan, J., Nip, K.M., Akbari, V., Chan, S.K., Hopkins, J., Moore, R.A., Chuah, E., Mungall, K.L., Mungall, A.J., Birol, I., Jones, S.J.M., Rader, J.S., Marra, M.A. (2022). Genomic structures and regulation patterns at HPV integration sites in cervical cancer. BioRxiv. 2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.04.564800v1.article-info
• Hamadeh Z., Hanlon, V., Lansdorp P. (2022) Mapping of sister chromatid exchange events and genome alterations in single cells. Elsevier Methods. 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1046202322001025
• Hanlon, V., Chan, D., Hamadeh Z., Wang, Y., Mattson, A., Spierings, D., Coope R., Lansdorp P. (2022) Construction of Strand-seq libraries in open nanoliter arrays. Cell Reports. 2022. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-methods/fulltext/S2667-2375(21)00227-7
• Hamadeh Z., Lansdorp P. (2021) RECQL5 at the Intersection of Replication and Transcription. Nuclear Genome Stability: DNA Replication, Telomere Maintenance, and DNA Repair. 2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.00324/full

Conference Presentations

• Hamadeh Z*, McGinnis E, Spence T. A Canadian Lab’s Experience Using Optical Genome Mapping To Clinically Genotype Hematological Neoplasms. European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) Annual Scientific Conference. Berlin, Germany. 2024 June. Poster Presentation (*presenting author).
• McGinnis E*, Hamadeh Z, Spence T. Interplatform comparison of Stratys and Saphyr: Preliminary results of OGM clinical verification in hematologic cancers. Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC) Annual Scientific Conference. St Louis, MO. 2024 Aug. Abstract and Poster Presentation (*presenting author).
• Hamadeh Z, McGinnis E, Spence T*. Six months of optical genome mapping as a routine clinical diagnostic test: lessons learned from your colleagues in the West. Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) Annual Scientific Conference. St John’s, NL. 2024 Jun. Abstract submitted for consideration (*presenting author).
• Hamadeh Z, McGinnis E, Spence T*. Inter-Platform Comparison of the Saphyr and Stratys Optical Genome Mapping System at the Vancouver General Hospital Cytogenomics Laboratory. Bionano Showcase at the American College of Medical Geneticists (ACMG) Annual Scientific Conference. 2024 Mar. Oral Platform Presentation (*presenting author).
• Hamadeh Z*, McGinnis E., Spence T. A Canadian Lab’s Clinical Validation Experience With Optical Genome Mapping As a Front-Line Diagnostic Test for Hematological Neoplasms. American College of Medical Geneticists (ACMG) Annual Scientific Conference. 2024 Mar. Oral Platform Presentation (*presenting author).
• McGinnis E*, Hamadeh Z, Spence T. Assessment of optical genome mapping for front-line diagnostic evaluation of acute leukemia: a Canadian single-center evaluation of additional yield in 69 informative cases. American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Scientific Conference. San Diego, CA. 2023 Dec. Abstract and Poster Presentation (*presenting author).
• Shopsowitz K*, Hamadeh Z, Merkeley H, McGinnis E. Concurrent Systemic Mastocytosis and T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Unified by a Novel Cryptic JAKMIP2::PDGFRB Rearrangement Identified by Optical Genome Mapping. Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC) Conference. St Louis, MO. 2023 Aug. Abstract and Poster Presentation (*presenting author).
• Hamadeh Z*, McGinnis E, Spence T. A tale of two KMT2As: Uncovering cryptic KMT2A rearrangements with optical genome mapping. Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) Annual Scientific Conference. Winnipeg, MB. 2023 Jun. Abstract and Oral Platform Presentation (*presenting author).
• Hamadeh Z*, McGinnis E, Spence T. VGH Experience with aggressive lymphoid neoplasms. Bionano Inc. Canadian Users Group Meeting. Toronto, ON. 2023 May. Oral Platform Presentation (*presenting author).

• Cancer
• Clinical cytogenetic and molecular genetic evaluation of hematologic cancers
• Clinical application of optical genome mapping and long read sequencing
• Genetic/genomic technologies
• Bioinformatics
• Cancer Genomics
• Hematological Malignancies

• Project #1: Clinical Implementation of Optical Genome Mapping As a Front-Line Diagnostic Test for Hematological Neoplasms 
• The Cytogenomics Lab has experienced a pivotal year marked by the successful validation and clinical launch of Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) in November 2023 for testing of acute leukemias. Moving forward, the lab plans to expand OGM testing to include myelodysplastic syndrome, relapsed acute leukemias and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, while discontinuing routine karyotype and FISH testing for these indications. 
• Overall, it is clear that OGM is revolutionizing the current landscape of genome diagnostics and has demonstrated striking clinical utility in our lab to-date, uncovering diagnostically and prognostically significant alterations previously hidden by low resolution analyses. We fully anticipate that this success will similarly translate into added clinical yield for additional indications in the coming months.

• Project #2: Rapid targeted gene sequencing and high-resolution optical genome mapping to optimize selection of targeted chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia
• The Cytogenomics Lab is also exploring Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long read sequencing (LRS) for the genomic profiling of AML. ONT LRS is an alternative, relatively economical approach that can provide rapid sequencing with real-time base calling and alignment, and offers several unique advantages but most notably, the ability to reflexively enrich reads within user-defined target regions to increase the depth of coverage without preamplification or capture steps. The latter technique, known as adaptive sampling, has allowed for the rapid, high coverage profiling of commonly mutated genes in which mutations confer susceptibility to small molecule inhibitors, and to diagnostically critical genes which may confer eligibility for chemotherapy formulation or for clinical trial entry, making this a potentially faster and more versatile approach compared to short read NGS panels. Based on our results of proof of concept studies, our lab is still investigating the feasibility of implementing this assay for rapid diagnostic assessment for AML.

I’m committed to educating future healthcare professionals and fostering a deeper understanding of genetic technologies and genomics in healthcare by actively engaging with a diverse range of learners, including:

• Hematopathology Residents/Medical Undergraduate Students through interactive lectures, case studies, and hands-on workshops
• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Students though instructional approaches 
• High School Students through outreach programs and educational initiatives focused on encouraging students to explore the fascinating intersection of genetics and healthcare.