Alexander Romaschin

PhD, FCACB, DCC

Investigator

Biography

Dr. Alex Romaschin is a certified Clinical Biochemist (1984) and Division Head of Biochemistry at St. Michael’s Hospital (2005). He developed a US FDA and Canada health protection branch approved human diagnostic test for Gram negative endotoxin (EAA) and is co-holder of 4 patents related to this assay technology. He was the co-founder of Sepsis Inc. which was a spin off biotechnology company founded in 1995 and acquired by Spectral Medical Products which commercialized the EAA assay in conjunction with an endotoxin removal hemofiltration device. His current research interests include applications of small molecule mass spectrometry to diagnostic testing, rapid detection of antibiotic resistance and design of biocompatible surfaces. His past training included a PhD in chemistry at the University of Windsor, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization sponsored postdoctoral fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research Institute University of California San Francisco and a diploma in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. He has more than 30 years experience as a Clinical Chemist and as of 2015, his 106 peer reviewed publications have raised more than 7 million dollars in research and commercialization funding.

Recent Publications

  1. Romaschin, AD, Obiezu-Forster, CV, Shoji, H, Klein, DJ. Novel Insights into the Direct Removal of Endotoxin by Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion. Blood Purif. 2017;44 (3):193-197. doi: 10.1159/000475982. PubMed PMID:28601867 .
  2. White, NM, Masui, O, Newsted, D, Scorilas, A, Romaschin, AD, Bjarnason, GA et al.. Galectin-1 has potential prognostic significance and is implicated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression through the HIF/mTOR signaling axis. Br J Cancer. 2017;116 (6):e3. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2016.441. PubMed PMID:28081542 PubMed Central PMC5355919.
  3. Martínez-Morillo, E, Childs, C, García, BP, Álvarez Menéndez, FV, Romaschin, AD, Cervellin, G et al.. Neurofilament medium polypeptide (NFM) protein concentration is increased in CSF and serum samples from patients with brain injury. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2015;53 (10):1575-84. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2014-0908. PubMed PMID:25720124 .
  4. Karamchandani, JR, Gabril, MY, Ibrahim, R, Scorilas, A, Filter, E, Finelli, A et al.. Profilin-1 expression is associated with high grade and stage and decreased disease-free survival in renal cell carcinoma. Hum Pathol. 2015;46 (5):673-80. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2014.11.007. PubMed PMID:25704627 .
  5. White, NM, Masui, O, Desouza, LV, Krakovska, O, Metias, S, Romaschin, AD et al.. Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals potential diagnostic markers and pathways involved in pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2014;5 (2):506-18. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.1529. PubMed PMID:24504108 PubMed Central PMC3964225.
  6. White, NM, Masui, O, Newsted, D, Scorilas, A, Romaschin, AD, Bjarnason, GA et al.. Galectin-1 has potential prognostic significance and is implicated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression through the HIF/mTOR signaling axis. Br J Cancer. 2014;110 (5):1250-9. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2013.828. PubMed PMID:24496460 PubMed Central PMC3950857.
  7. White, NM, Newsted, DW, Masui, O, Romaschin, AD, Siu, KW, Yousef, GM et al.. Identification and validation of dysregulated metabolic pathways in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Tumour Biol. 2014;35 (3):1833-46. doi: 10.1007/s13277-013-1245-6. PubMed PMID:24136743 .
  8. Khella, HW, Bakhet, M, Lichner, Z, Romaschin, AD, Jewett, MA, Yousef, GM et al.. MicroRNAs in kidney disease: an emerging understanding. Am J Kidney Dis. 2013;61 (5):798-808. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.09.018. PubMed PMID:23219107 .
  9. Romaschin, AD, Klein, DJ, Marshall, JC. Bench-to-bedside review: Clinical experience with the endotoxin activity assay. Crit Care. 2012;16 (6):248. doi: 10.1186/cc11495. PubMed PMID:23206992 PubMed Central PMC3672550.
  10. Lecker, I, Wang, DS, Romaschin, AD, Peterson, M, Mazer, CD, Orser, BA et al.. Tranexamic acid concentrations associated with human seizures inhibit glycine receptors. J Clin Invest. 2012;122 (12):4654-66. doi: 10.1172/JCI63375. PubMed PMID:23187124 PubMed Central PMC3533541.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Head, Clinical Biochemistry, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Associate Professor, Lab Medicine and Surgery, University of Toronto