Sufian F. Alkhaldi, Ph.D.

DNA Microarray Lab.
Office of Regulatory Science (ORS), HFS-712

FDA/CFSAN -HFS712
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
 
Tel: 301-436-1644 (office)
Tel: 301-436-2298   (lab)
Fax: 301-436-2632

E. mail: Sufian.AlKhaldi@fda.hhs.gov

Statement of Research Problem

Current and future foodborne outbreaks require new technologies to provide fast and specific methods for the isolation and detection of potentially dangerous pathogenic bacteria. Combining bacterial isolation and identification technologies using automation will provide fast and high throughput screening abilities to rapidly identify foodborne pathogenic bacteria. This work is focused on the requirements for the fast detection and response to natural and deliberate microbiological food outbreaks, thus protecting the public health.  

The objectives of my research

(1) To develop a DNA chip for the identification of foodborne bacteria.

(2) To develop novel label-free DNA chips for bacterial gene detection by infrared micro-spectroscopy.

Some common techniques which are used in my lab: DNA isolation, PCR amplification, Restriction enzyme analysis, DNA fluorescent PCR labeling, DNA Microarraying, Chip hybridization, Chip fabrication, laser scanning, data analysis using bioinformatic programs, and many general molecular biology techniques.