Roland Valdes Jr.

Roland Valdes Jr. is a Tenured Professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He also serves as Chief of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology at University Hospital and Director of the Clinical Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. A Diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry and Fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, he has held leadership roles including Senior Vice-Chairman and presidential positions in organizations like the Clinical Ligand Assay Society and the Association of Clinical Scientists.

• PhD in Molecular Biophysics from University of Virginia
• Postdoctoral training in Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry/Toxicology

Dr. Valdes' research focuses on clinical chemistry, pharmacogenetics, and precision medicine. He pioneered CLIA-accredited pharmacogenetic diagnostics through PGXL Laboratories, advancing personalized medicine via laboratory innovations. His work spans therapeutic efficiency optimization, anticoagulation management, and pharmacogenetic clinical implementation.

Notable publications include:

• 1997 seminal work on pharmacogenetics in clinical practice (Clin Chem)
• 1999 exploration of pharmacogenetics in laboratory medicine (Molec Diag)
• 2012 clinical trial comparing PerMIT anticoagulation management (Thromb Haemost)

Scientific awards and recognitions:

• Diplomat of American Board of Clinical Chemistry
• Fellow of National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry
• Distinguished scientist awards from AACC, NACB, CLAS, and ACS

Dr. Valdes has chaired federal committees (CLIA, NIH Study Sections), authored 260+ publications, and holds patents in clinical chemistry. He founded PGXL Laboratories, the first CLIA-accredited pharmacogenetic diagnostics lab, and continues developing novel clinical chemistry techniques for precision medicine.