Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine (CALM)

Greg Berry, PhD, D(ABMM) is Director of the CALM and Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Berry is a board-certified Clinical Microbiologist and serves as Medical Co-Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, overseeing infectious disease diagnostics across molecular microbiology, virology, bacteriology, diagnostic immunology, mycobacteriology, mycology, and parasitology. He also serves as Scientific Director of the Biorepository for Disease, Genes, and Environment (BRIDGE), supporting large-scale biospecimen collection and translational research initiatives.

Eldad Hod, MD is the former Director of CALM and now serves as a strategic advisor. Dr. Hod is Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vice Chair of Clinical Pathology, and Director of Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Laboratories at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. A board-certified Clinical Pathologist, he brings over 20 years of leadership experience across blood banking, clinical chemistry, and hematology, with a focus on advancing laboratory operations, transfusion medicine, and clinical research integration.

Tiffany Thomas, PhD is Director of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory and Director of Quality Assurance for the Clinical Laboratories. She provides specialized expertise in biochemical genetics, metabolism, and advanced clinical chemistry testing. In her quality leadership role, Dr. Thomas ensures that CALM’s processes, procedures, and results meet CLIA standards and support continuous quality improvement across all laboratory operations.

Richard Francis, MD, PhD and Alex J. Rai, PhD, DABCC, FAACC are the Associate Directors of the CALM. Dr. Francis is Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Medical Director of Hematology and Coagulation, with expertise in disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis. Dr. Rai is Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Medical Director of Clinical Chemistry, with extensive experience in clinical assay development, validation, and implementation. Both provide leadership in point-of-care testing within their respective domains, supporting high-quality, clinically integrated laboratory services for research and clinical studies.

Together, this group of leaders will ensure the highest quality of results for your testing needs.

The CALM laboratory currently offers the following services:

• Sample Procurement – We have access to all specimens received in the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Laboratories at CUIMC.
• Laboratory Testing – Available for both research use, FDA-approved, and CLIA-certified clinical tests.
• New Assay Validation – We ensure that results are provided with accuracy and reliability.
• New Instrument Validation/FDA New Device Approval Studies – We can help validate and perform the FDA approval studies for your new device, including all needs related to 510(k) clinical trials (testing, honest broker, chart review, CRF documentation, documentation maintenance and retention, audit support).
• Sample Processing, Shipping, Handling, and Temporary Storage – We have flexible space and freezers to handle, process, store, and ship samples.
• Phlebotomy – CALM is equipped with phlebotomy stations and phlebotomists from 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• Data Management – Data is stored in secure, encrypted databases, accessible for review through protected web access.

We will provide the highest quality results at competitive, reasonable rates.

For access to a variety of blood products from healthy blood donors (e.g., whole blood, buffy coats, mononuclear or hematopoietic cells, etc.), please see the following link:

Comprehensive Cell Solutions

If you are interested in a collaboration, please email CALM@columbia.edu to begin the process.