Alanna J. Church

Dr. Alanna J. Church is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and serves as the Associate Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Pediatric Pathology (LaMPP) at Boston Children's Hospital. She specializes in molecular pathology with a focus on pediatric cancers and genetic disorders, contributing significantly to the field of precision medicine in pediatric oncology.

Dr. Church received her medical degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 2006. She completed her residency in Pathology at Queen's University in 2012, followed by fellowships at Harvard Medical School (2013), Brigham and Women's Hospital (2014), and Boston Children's Hospital (2016).

Dr. Church's research focuses on molecular diagnostics in pediatric pathology, with particular expertise in tumor genomics, molecular alterations in pediatric solid tumors, and precision oncology approaches. Her work bridges the gap between genomic analysis and clinical application, enabling more targeted therapies for pediatric cancer patients. She has made significant contributions to understanding molecular markers in various pediatric cancers including sarcomas, neuroblastoma, and rare pediatric tumors.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating molecular tumor profiling with clinical care, with emphasis on precision medicine applications. The research spans molecular diagnostics development, characterization of genetic alterations in pediatric cancers, and implementation of genomic testing in clinical practice. Key themes include NTRK fusion-positive tumors, molecular characterization of rare pediatric neoplasms, and the clinical application of genomic findings.

• American Board of Pathology (Anatomic Clinical Pathology)
• American Board of Pathology (Anatomic Molecular Genetics)
• American Board of Pathology (Pediatric)

As Associate Program Director for the Harvard Medical School Molecular Genetic Pathology Training Program, Dr. Church plays a key role in training the next generation of molecular pathologists. She serves as Site Director for Boston Children's Hospital rotations in this program, overseeing clinical and research training in molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Church leads molecular pathology initiatives within the Laboratory for Molecular Pediatric Pathology, which focuses on innovative tissue-based diagnostic testing tailored for pediatric patients with cancer and developmental anomalies. The laboratory specializes in genomic sequencing, rare mutation detection, and copy number analysis to advance personalized medicine approaches.