SYDNEY D. FINKELSTEIN

Sydney David Finkelstein, M.D., founded RedPath Integrated Pathology, Inc., the first pathology services company to open the door for genetic analysis on everyday patient specimens.
Throughout his professional career, Dr. Finkelstein has pursued the goal of clinical translational research of molecular genetic discoveries for standard surgical pathology practice.  Particularly aware of the obstacles in his path, he developed the format of microdissected-based genotyping wherein minute tissue samples are microdissected from fixed histology sections and then used to define the presence and character of a wide array of cancer related gene mutations. In addition to pioneering this area and fully developing the assays, Dr. Finkelstein has followed through completely on the clinical translational goal by commercializing his technology platform.   He joined the Company on a fulltime basis in March 2004 and directs all medical and research activities.

Dr. Finkelstein founded RedPath after having spent 20 years as a practicing academic surgical pathologist holding appointments as Associate and then Full Professor at the University of Pittsburgh (1993-1997, 1998-2002) and at Hahnemann University (1983-1993).  It was in 1990 that he first commenced work on the development of Topographic Genotyping, his patented technology for enhancing polymerase chain reaction amplifiability of minute, microdissected, fixative treated tissue samples. The patent was filed in 1995, granted for the United States and is pending in Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan. The patent has been licensed exclusively to RedPath.

Dr. Finkelstein is a nationally recognized expert in both Gastrointestinal Pathology and Solid Tissue Molecular Pathology. He has published over 142 scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his work at international forums. Dr. Finkelstein brings together the unique attributes of creative innovative molecular pathology development as well as solid foundational understanding of the practice of modern surgical pathology practice.

Dr. Finkelstein established a strong record of ongoing original contributions highly complementary to the missions of the Academic Centers where he taught, conducted his research and provided clinical service. He participated in the education of students at all levels, had 100% of his time funded by independent and collaborative research endeavors in molecular anatomic pathology and had clinical responsibility for all facets of gastrointestinal pathology.  He directed the Gastrointestinal Pathology Center of Excellence and Molecular Anatomic Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh. Moreover, he participated actively in the education of his fellow faculty members by presentation at a variety of intradepartmental and interdepartmental CME-sponsored conferences including Diagnostic Pathology Conference, Pathology Research Conference, Digestive Diseases grand rounds, Gastrointestinal Tumor Board and other forums. He served as a mentor to trainees, fellows and junior pathologists supporting their development in molecular pathology.

With respect to clinical support, solid tissue molecular testing had a strong set-up under his leadership and dramatically increased its volume of testing to include many different forms of human cancer as well as non-neoplastic states.  He provided the University of Pittsburgh with the leading edge in this field such that it received significant referral work from other academic and private institutions.

Dr. Finkelstein also serves as Adjunct Professor of Pathology at Drexel University where he lectures in molecular pathology and works with the residents in training on clinical and research applications.

He received his M.D. from McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1977 and completed his Experimental Pathology Fellowship at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA from 1982-1984.

Back