The University of the West Indies is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Wayne McLaughlin, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences to the rank of Professor in Molecular Biology, with effect from February 3, 2010.

Dr. McLaughlin holds the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Biology from the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry from The University of the West Indies, Mona. He also has post-graduate training and experience in Forensic DNA analysis and the Interpretation of DNA mixtures and statistical analysis, as well as project implementation and management.

Dr. Wayne McLaughlin joined the staff of The University of the West Indies, Mona in 1989 as Lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences – Biochemistry Section and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2002. He is currently head of Department and also Director of Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN), the commercial forensic DNA laboratory at The UWI, Mona.

Professor McLaughlin is an accomplished molecular biologist who has developed a diverse and productive research programme that is focused on molecular plant pathology issues. He and his colleagues have carried out pioneering research on the transfer of plasmids in slow-growing rhizobia and later on the molecular characterization of whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses infecting crop plants in Jamaica such as the common bean, pepper and tomato.  Of particular note was the identification of the introduced Tomato yellow leaf curl virus and the Tomato dwarf leaf curl virus, as the cause of a leaf curl and dwarfing disease of tomato.

Dr. McLaughlin has also worked on lethal yellowing of coconut which has devastated certain trees in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Results of these works have contributed to new knowledge about viruses and bacteria affecting important crops in the region. Additionally, his research led to the identification of a strain of Pseudomonas and Bacillus which protect Scotch Bonnet peppers from diseases caused by Tobacco Etch Virus. Work done in green houses has shown that germination and plant growth is increased by these pathogens and work is now in progress to identify the mechanism by which the pathogens induce resistance to the virus. He has published over 30 original and review papers in local, regional and international journals.

As an academic, Professor McLaughlin has been instrumental in developing and implementing undergraduate curricula and graduate research in the areas of molecular biology and biotechnology, and, more recently in forensic science.

His interest into the area of Forensic Genetics and Human Molecular Genetics led him in 2005, to establish Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN), the first independent forensic DNA laboratory in the Caribbean to provide expert witness and DNA analysis to the legal profession in both civil and criminal cases. Since then, he has served as expert witness in several criminal cases and the unit has provided services to both local and regional courts. Professor McLaughlin was also the forensic DNA expert witness in the landmark case R vs. Stafford Webb for rape (2006).   Genetic studies are also underway in Diabetes Mellitus, Autism, HIV/AIDS, the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Hepatitis B and C and the susceptibility of Jamaican women in Breast Cancer.

His laboratory is recognised internationally in the area of molecular biology and has hosted several regional workshops and undertaken consultancies in molecular pathology of plant diseases.

The quality of his work has been recognised by his receiving a number of awards, including two Fulbright Awards, the Scientific Council Award for Best Scientific Performance in 1982 and 1987 and the Silver Musgrave Medal in 2001 for outstanding merit in the field of Science from the Institute of Jamaica.
 
Evidence of the respect with which Professor McLaughlin is regarded professionally is shown in the number of boards and committees on which he serves, including membership in the American Phytopathological Society, Member of the Jamaica Society for Agricultural Sciences, Board Member of the Coconut Industry Board and Chairman of the Research Committee, Board Member of Seprod Limited, Deputy Chairman of the National Biossafety Committee, and Member of the editorial committee of the Jamaica Journal. He is the Deputy Chairman of the Biosafety Committee of the National Commission of Science and Technology, a member of the CARICOM Biotechnology Working Group and has also served as reviewer for local, regional and international journals.