Derek Symula, PhD
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Derek Symula, PhD

Title
Director, Division of Laboratory Quality Certification
Director of the Cytogenetics Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany
Education
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1995)
Postdoctoral training: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

As Director of the Division of Laboratory Quality Certification (DLQC), Dr. Symula oversees eight regulatory programs that have regulatory authority over multiple areas of public health. DLQC maintains a portfolio of approximately 25,000 regulated parties, including some outside of New York State. Dr. Symula ensures that the programs have appropriate resources, facilitates resolution of policy issues and questions about regulatory authority, coordinates with stakeholders (including Department of Health, other state agencies, federal agencies, law enforcement, and regulated parties), and ensures that regulatory requirements are updated as needed. The DLQC regulatory programs include:

  • Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP) - responsible for regulatory oversight of clinical laboratories, blood banks, limited-service laboratories, and source plasma collection sites. Facilities located outside of NYS that test specimens originating in NYS must meet CLEP requirements. 
  • Environmental Laboratory Evaluation Program (ELAP) - responsible for regulatory oversight of environmental testing labs. Facilities located outside of NYS that test samples originating in NYS must meet ELAP requirements.
  • Physician Office Laboratory Evaluation Program (POLEP) - responsible for regulatory oversight of certain clinical laboratories located in NYS that are exempted from CLEP oversight by NYS Public Health Law. These laboratories instead must meet federal CLIA requirements. 
  • Tissue Resources Program (TRP) - responsible for regulatory oversight of tissue banks, including tissue banks engaging in assisted reproduction. Facilities located outside of NYS that are responsible for tissue originating in NYS and/or distributed to NYS must meet TRP requirements. 
  • Breath Alcohol Permit Program (BAPP) - issues permits to peace officers authorizing them to use breath alcohol testing devices. 
  • Blood Alcohol Analyst Certification Program (BAACP) - issues permits to analysts, authorizing them to test blood samples for alcohol content. 
  • Regulated Medical Waste Program (RMWP) - responsible for regulatory oversight of medical waste management and treatment at NYS hospitals, clinical labs, and residential care facilities. 
  • Laboratory Investigations Unit (LIU) – coordinate investigation of complaints and incidents concerning regulated parties.

In addition to his role as Division Director, Dr. Symula is:

  • Director of BAPP, BAACP, RMWP, and LIU. 
  • Director of the Cytogenetics Quality Assurance Program, which sets clinical laboratory tests requirements for CLEP laboratories. 
  • Responsible for laboratory developed test reviews for Cytogenetics, Genetic Testing – Molecular, Oncology – Cellular and Molecular, Histocompatibility, Paternity, and Transplant Monitoring.
  • Subject matter expert for review of laboratory developed tests in Cytogenetics and Genetic Testing – Molecular

Dr. Symula joined the Wadsworth Center in 2001 as a research scientist working in the areas of genomics and neurodegenerative disease. He subsequently served as the Director of the Wadsworth Center Cytogenetics Proficiency Testing Program, Director of the Tissue Resources Program, and Deputy Director of DLQC.