Regina Catherine Ferguson, Facilities Manager for the Department of Pathology (2017-2026), passed away peacefully at home on February 2, 2026, in the presence of her family after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Regina was a beloved member of our team, with a smile that lit up every room she entered. Her quick steps and service-oriented demeanor reflected who she was at heart – a servant leader. Anyone with a facilities-related issue could receive a quick resolution when Regina was notified. She was a bloodhound on the trail, ensuring nothing was left undone.
Honoring U‑M Phlebotomists During Phlebotomy Recognition Week 2026
The University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity has awarded an Impact Accelerator Grant to a U-M–Kenya collaboration focused on improving digital pathology quality and diagnostic accuracy, led by Dr. Ulysses G. J. Balis with Dr. Kamran Mirza as co-investigator.
A new study published in Nature by Dr. Sriram Venneti’s laboratory at the University of Michigan’s Department of Pathology and the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center has identified a surprising driver of ependymoma growth: a molecule called itaconate. The discovery opens the door to new therapeutic strategies for this aggressive childhood cancer.
Dr. Celina Kleer, Harold A. Oberman Collegiate Professor of Pathology, received a generous donation from The Dynami Foundation to study invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. The Dynami Foundation recognized Dr. Kleer as an exceptional breast cancer researcher with over 20 years of experience.
Parolia Lab to expand its research into Ewing Sarcoma with grant funding from Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
The 24th Annual Pathology Research Symposium, held on Friday, November 7th, was a resounding success! The auditorium was filled with graduate students, faculty mentors, and others interested in learning more about the exceptional work being performed by our students.
Dr. Madelyn Lew was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement in Medical Education Award.
Michele Mitchell's Journey from Diagnosis to Discovery and Beyond
Congratulations to Dr. Rouba Ali-Fehmi and Dr. Rohit Mehra for being named among Hour Detroit magazine’s “Top Docs” of 2025.
RNA modifications control how stem cells develop into retinal cells. Study uncovers METTL3’s role in tissue development, which was previously unexplored
A study from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center and Department of Pathology shows that further testing in renal cell carcinoma with an overexpression of gene TRIM63 could uncover a mutation otherwise undetected, leading to more treatment options for patients.
Dr. Lanbo Xiao, a research assistant professor in the Center for Translational Pathology, received a 2025 Faculty Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to cancer research, teaching, and service. His pioneering work in chromatin remodeling and epigenetic regulation has led to new insights in cancer therapy and significant advances in public health diagnostics.
This summer, the Department of Pathology piloted a Summer Medical Laboratory Immersion Internship with two undergraduate students.
This October, Erin Gumpper, MLS (ASCP), and Colleen Mackey, MLS (ASCP) of the Histocompatibility Laboratory will present at the ASHI Conference in Orlando, Florida, on the topic of sustainability in the HLA Lab.
Annette S. Kim, MD, PhD, FCAP, received the prestigious 2025 CAP Laboratory Improvement Programs Service Award in recognition of her transformative leadership as the vice-chair of the Personalized Health Care Committee (PHC).
On September 14, 2025, Dr. Meredith Herman, Pathology House Officer III, was awarded the College of American Pathologist’s (CAP’s) Junior Member of the Year award, which is given to one resident or fellow annually who has made exceptional contributions to the field through leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and service. This award reflects the CAP’s commitment to supporting the next generation of pathologists and recognizing the impact residents can have on the specialty, even early in their careers.
Faculty and trainees from U-M Pathology are in Orlando this weekend for the College of American Pathologists Annual Meeting, sharing their expertise through lectures, posters, and breakout sessions. The schedule features numerous presentations and recognitions, highlighting the department’s contributions and achievements.
Research from Sriram Venneti, MD, PhD and Carl Koschmann, MD led to FDA approval of a drug treatment for diffuse midline glioma.
For decades, cancer has been primarily viewed as a disease caused by genetic mutations, but Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP) graduate student Sanjana Eyunnis' research is expanding this perspective. Her thesis research, published in her dissertation, Chimeric AR Motifs and Neo-Enhancer Expansion in Prostate Cancer Development, presents the first evidence of FOXA1-driven prostate adenocarcinoma formation in mouse models and further substantiates the structural classification of distinct FOXA1 alterations within its coding region or genomic locus.
The Department of Pathology proudly congratulates Carol Young, Clinical Research Project Manager in Microbiology, on an extraordinary milestone: 50 years of dedicated service at the University of Michigan.
The winners of the second annual Department of Pathology Art Competition, The Art of Pathology.
Busy packing up his apartment following his graduation from the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program, Brian Basinski, PhD, took a few moments out of his day to share about his journey. Basinski presented his research in his PhD dissertation defense, “Mechanistic Insights into the Function of PRDM13 in Mouse Retinal Organoids,” on June 17, 2025.
Study reveals mechanisms behind common mutation and prostate cancer. Researchers discovered two distinct ways mutation of the FOXA1 gene alters tumor formation and therapy resistance in prostate cancer in mouse models.