2023: OAMD New Director announcement

OAMD announces new director Duncan MacCannell

Dr. Duncan MacCannell announced as new director of CDC’s Office of Advanced Molecular Detection

We congratulate Duncan MacCannell PhD, MBT, on the announcement of his new role as director of CDC’s Office of Advanced Molecular Detection, Through his vision and leadership, OAMD will continue to promote capacity, ethical open data, and equity in precision public health.

In 2011, Duncan began work on the initiative that, in 2014, became the AMD program. He has guided the program’s development ever since as OAMD’s chief science officer, the position he held before accepting the role as Acting OAMD director, when Greg Armstrong, MD retired in September 2022.

Duncan has a long track record of scientific achievement and leadership that combines microbiology, genomic sequencing, laboratory technology, and bioinformatics to advance public health. He has received many recognitions that include an Arthur S. Flemming Award, a CSELS Honor Award, an HHS Innovates Award Secretary’s Pick, and an NCEZID Director’s Award.

During his entire career, Duncan has advocated strongly for broad access to the science, tools, training, and expertise that professionals need to help improve health outcomes. Duncan has helped accomplish this goal by spreading sequencing and bioinformatic science and technology throughout the United States and the world. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, his collaborative advocacy enabled him to establish the Sequencing for Public Health Emergency Response, Epidemiology and Surveillance (SPHERES) initiative. Duncan serves as the consortium’s chair and also as co-chair of a working group in the SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group, or SIG. Duncan also currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and has co-authored book chapters and a significant number of scientific studies and articles. Early in his career, Duncan led molecular epidemiology and laboratory-based surveillance for healthcare-associated pathogens in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion.

Duncan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from McGill University and a Master of Biomedical Technology from the University of Calgary, where he also earned his Doctor of Philosophy in infectious diseases in 2006. The same year, Duncan began a research fellowship at CDC’s PulseNet, and he has served the agency ever since.

Please join us in welcoming Duncan to his new role as OAMD director.