LaDonna M. Grenz
Beaverton,OR
Summary
Lead microbiologist specializing in molecular testing, method development and quality assurance. Supervised staff training and collaborated with state and federal public health agencies, resulting in impactful public health outcomes and multiple publications. Expertise in PCR and grant writing, contributing to funding and successful research initiatives.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
Work History
Microbiologist 3 (Lead Microbiologist)
Oregon State Public Health Laboratory
Hillsboro, OR
12.2000 - Current
- Led microbiology team, supervising training of microbiologists and medical laboratory technicians on virology section policies and procedures.
- Acted as lab liaison and subject matter expert for incident management teams addressing public health threats.
- Collaborated with state epidemiologists and CDC personnel on outbreak investigations, resulting in numerous publications and ongoing projects.
- Wrote narratives and budgets for grants, securing funding for research initiatives.
- Participated in hiring events by reviewing applications and serving on interview panels to select qualified candidates.
- Coordinated staff training, test bench rotations, and competency assessments to ensure compliance with testing standards.
- Reviewed CAP and CLIA regulations, implementing processes to maintain section compliance.
- Optimized nucleic acid extraction methods, enhancing efficiency of molecular testing operations.
- Develop and implement molecular procedures for the detection of infectious diseases.
Research Associate Microbiologist
Biomune Vaccine Company
Lenexa, KS
06.1998 - 12.2000
- Contributed to development of cell culture-produced vaccine for chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) as part of two-member team.
- Executed in vitro neutralization assays and animal trials to assess vaccine efficacy.
- Evaluated various cell lines for avian vaccine production while ensuring compliance with USDA and FDA regulations.
- Conducted restriction enzyme digests and conventional PCR to characterize viruses from animal tissues.
- Reduced production costs by weaning several cell lines to lower concentrations of FBS.
- Maintained, characterized, and cryopreserved multiple cell lines and viral stocks.
- Trained production managers and lab technicians on CIAV vaccine propagation in suspension cultures.
- Authored detailed procedures and maintained accurate records for data analysis.
Research Associate
University of Kansas – Medical Center
03.1997 - 06.1998
- Conducted research trials assessing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis impact on SHIV-infected monkeys.
- Executed lymphoproliferative assays on PBMCs from infected monkeys to evaluate immune responses.
- Performed conventional RT-PCR analysis on tissues from infected monkeys; analyzed PCR amplicons using agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Assisted with Sanger sequencing of virus isolated from monkey tissues.
Research Assistant
University of Kansas – Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas
07.1995 - 03.1997
- Conducted in vivo experiments on cell proliferation and cyst formation using experimental drugs on cysts grown in agar from harvested cells of diseased human kidneys.
- Evaluated effects of experimental drugs on polycystic kidney condition in rats across heterozygous and homozygous genotypes.
- Maintained and propagated MDCK and primary human kidney cells for polycystic kidney disease research.
- Managed rat colony with genetic cystic kidney disease, breeding specific genotypes and documenting progeny records accurately.
Research Assistant
Kansas State University
08.1985 - 07.1995
- Designed and executed an experiment utilizing monoclonal producing B-cells in microgravity on the International Space Station, contributing to innovative research in cellular biology.
- Designed and conducted experiments employing techniques such as neutralization assays, hemadsorption inhibition assays, immunofluorescent assays, immunoblots, and plaque neutralization assays.
- Developed ELISA assay for synthetic peptides and corresponding antisera, facilitating the analysis of peptide reactivity.
- Supervised and trained undergraduate students, post-docs, and graduate students in the maintenance and propagation of various cell lines (primary and established), virus stocks, tissue culture media, and mouse colonies.
- Managed multiple NIH and Cancer Research grants, ensuring compliance and progression of funded projects.
- Collected, purified, and characterized rabbit antisera raised to various proteins and peptides.
- Propagated polyoma virus in primary mouse kidney and embryonic cells and granulosis virus in Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth) insect colonies.
- Completed Master of Science degree while working full time.
Research Assistant
North Dakota State University
05.1985 - 08.1985
- Propagated and lyophilized bacterial stocks of B.papillae and evaluated the effectiveness of various experimental lyophilization media formulations on bacterial recovery and survival rates.
- Produced bacterial media and cultures, and sterilized glassware, ensuring quality and readiness for laboratory courses.
Education
Public Health Program Planning, Public Health Program Evaluation
Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University
Portland, OR03-2019
M.S. - Laboratory Medicine
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KSB.S. - Bacteriology
North Dakota State University
Fargo, NDSkills
- Molecular testing
- Assay validation
- Multitasking capacity
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Written communication
- Problem-solving abilities
- PCR and qpcr expertise
- Pathogen detection
- Automated equipment
- Collaborative teamwork
- Good laboratory practices
- Nucleic acids isolation
- Gel electrophoresis
- Equipment maintenance
- Experimental design
- Immunological assays
- Cell culturing techniques
- Molecular biology techniques
- Laboratory compliance
- Quality assurance
- Data analysis
- Incident management
- Biosafety protocols
- Team leadership
- Staff training
- Project management
- Scientific writing
- Grant writing
- ELISA assay
- Data interpretation
- Aseptic technique
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Outbreak investigation
- Research collaboration
- Regulatory compliance
- Quality control procedures
- Tissue culture
References
Provided upon request
Publications
- Scott, M., Chommanard, C., Lu, X., Appelgate, D., Grenz, L., Schneider, E., Thomas, A., Human Adenovirus Associated with Severe Respiratory Infection, Oregon, USA, 2013-2014., Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22, 6, 1044-1051, 06/01/16, https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2206.151898
- Fowlkes, A.L., Giorgi, A.U., Erdman, D.E., Temte, J.L., Goodin, K., Di Lonardo, S.S., Sun, Y., Martin, K.G., Feist, M.A., Linz, R., Boulton, R., Bancroft, E.A., Mchugh, L., Lojo, J.A., Filbert, K., Finelli, L., Lemmings, J., Whitaker, B., Lang, B., Lynfield, R., Carroll, L., Boxrud, D.J., Stark, L.M., Heberlein-Larson, L.A., Mock, V.A., Desjardin, L.E., Trythall, M., Fu, J., Atkinson, A., Gren, L.H., Reisdorf, E.S., Grenz, L., Biggs, C., Sturgeon, J., Rivas, H., Wolf, B., Lute, J.R., Kurkjian, K.M., Toney, D.M., Viruses Associated with Acute Respiratory Infections and Influenza-like Illness Among Outpatients From the Influenza Incidence Surveillance Project, 2010–2011., The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 209, 1715 - 1725, 06/01/14, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jit806
- Plantenga MS, Shiferaw B, Keene WE, et al., Specimen Collection and Confirmation of Norovirus Outbreaks., Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17, 8, 1553-1555, 08/01/11, https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1708.101815
- Costantini V, Grenz L, Fritzinger A, et al., Diagnostic accuracy and analytical sensitivity of IDEIA Norovirus assay for routine screening of human norovirus., J Clin Microbiol, 48, 8, 2770-2778, 08/01/10, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00654-10
- Paul F. Lewis, Mark A. Schmidt, Xiaoyan Lu, Dean D. Erdman, Mary Campbell, Ann Thomas, Paul R. Cieslak, La Donna Grenz, Laura Tsaknardis, Curt Gleaves, Brian Kendall, David Gilbert, A Community-Based Outbreak of Severe Respiratory Illness Caused by Human Adenovirus Serotype 14., The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 199, 10, 05/15/09, https://doi.org/10.1086/598521
- Heideh K. Fattaey, Richard A. Consigli, LaDonna Grenz, Terry C. Johnson, A cell stabilization factor for transport of experimental cell cultures to and from the International Space Station., AIP Conference Proceedings, 504, 582-587, 01/01/00, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1302543
- Grantham JJ, Schreiner GF, Rome L, Grenz L, Joly A., Evidence for inflammatory and secretagogue lipids in cyst fluids from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease., Proc Assoc Am Physicians, 109, 4, 397-408, 01/01/97, https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.V641242
- Consigli, R., Haynes, J., Chang, D., Grenz, L., Richter, D., Early Events of Polyoma Infection: Adsorption, Penetration and Nuclear Transport., Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (1903-), 95, 1/2, 62-69, 01/01/92, https://doi.org/10.2307/3628020
Timeline
Microbiologist 3 (Lead Microbiologist)
Oregon State Public Health Laboratory
12.2000 - Current
Research Associate Microbiologist
Biomune Vaccine Company
06.1998 - 12.2000
Research Associate
University of Kansas – Medical Center
03.1997 - 06.1998
Research Assistant
University of Kansas – Medical Center
07.1995 - 03.1997
Research Assistant
Kansas State University
08.1985 - 07.1995
Research Assistant
North Dakota State University
05.1985 - 08.1985
Public Health Program Planning, Public Health Program Evaluation
Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University
M.S. - Laboratory Medicine
Kansas State University
B.S. - Bacteriology
North Dakota State University