Overview
Dr. Datto is an AP/CP/MGP board certified pathologist who specializes in molecular pathology. He is the Associate Vice President for Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories, the Vice Chair for Clinical Pathology and Medical Director for Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories.
In these roles, he is responsible for maintaining the standards of the College of American Pathologists and CLIA/CMS within all Clinical Laboratories at Duke. Specifically, Dr. Datto oversees clinical testing and reporting, develops quality management systems and proficiency testing programs, provides consultation with ordering physicians, ensures educational programs, develops strategic plans that are in line with the needs of our patient population, physicians and health system leadership, coordinates research and development, ensures adequate and appropriately trained personnel, and provides profession interpretation for molecular diagnostic testing including the wide range of PCR, quantitative PCR, sequencing and FISH based tests for inherited genetic diseases, hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and infectious diseases.
Dr. Datto also serves as the chair of the Accreditation Committee (AC) for the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP is the largest accreditor of hospital based laboratories in the US and serves as a ‘deemed entity’ by the Center for Medicare Services. In his role of chair of the AC, Dr. Datto oversees the committee that makes clinical accreditation decisions for approximately 7,000 clinical domestic and international laboratories.
Finally, Dr. Datto has an active academic program developing data system to aggregate, normalize and utilize high complexity and high volume laboratory data. Dr. Datto and his team have developed the Molecular Registry of Tumors (Mr.T); a software solution that supports clinical trials matching, engagement with the AACR GENIE Project and the Molecular Tumor Board for Duke University Health System. The ultimate goal of this work is to ensure that the vast amount of laboratory data generated on our Duke patients can be put to use, driving better patient care, research and education.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Expansion of an Academic Molecular Tumor Board to Enhance Access to Biomarker-Driven Trials and Therapies in the Rural Southeastern United States.
Journal Article Curr Oncol · November 16, 2024 Targeting tumor-specific molecular alterations has shown significant clinical benefit. Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) connect cancer patients with personalized treatments and clinical trials. However, rural cancer centers often have limited access to MTB ex ... Full text Link to item CiteAddressing False Positives in High-Sensitivity Troponin I Testing: Mitigation Strategies.
Journal Article J Appl Lab Med · November 4, 2024 Full text Link to item CiteComprehensive Genomic Profiling in Non-Myeloid Hematologic Malignancies Identifies Variants That Can Alter Clinical Practice.
Journal Article Hematol Rep · September 30, 2024 BACKGROUND: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is frequently adopted to direct the clinical care of myeloid neoplasms and solid tumors, but its utility in the care of lymphoid and histiocytic cancers is less well defined. METHODS: In this study, we aime ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Cooperative Human Tissue Network Support through Duke's BioRepository & Precision Pathology Center
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2019 - 2029Adapting K-MDS to detect KRAS-mutant ctDNA
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2025Diffraction tomography for accurate digital pathology on a portable microscope
ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by AiriLabs LLC · 2022 - 2023View All Grants