Biography

Prior to joining St. Paul's Hospital, I completed my Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine at UBC. My family and I then moved to the United Arab Emirates for 6 years. There, I established the first molecular reference laboratory at the Cleveland Clinic operated Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. We enjoyed the sun, sea, and sand (and cycling) in the Emirates. Since returning to Vancouver, I have served as the Clinical Molecular Scientist for St. Paul's Hospital. The molecular diagnostics team and I have expanded our test menu by developing and validating numerous new molecular tests. We have developed PCR assays for a number of viruses, and established various assays for detection of bacteria and fungi, and antibiotic resistance. Molecular tests have also been established for the chemistry lab. In addition, our virology lab is the BC reference centre for viral load testing for HIV, hepatitis, and transplant associated viruses. Recently, we have been busy with next-generation sequencing tests for viral genotyping and drug resistance, and bacterial identification.

Academic Background

• BSc (Biochemistry and Chemistry), UBC

• BASc (Chemical Engineering), UBC

• PhD (Experimental Medicine), UBC

• DABCC (Molecular Diagnostics)

• Fellow(NACB)

• Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC

Expertise / Research Interests

• Molecular Diagnostics

• Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Next-Generation Sequencing

Teaching Interests

• Molecular Diagnostic Methods

• Quality Assurance and Quality Control

• Regulation of Gene Expression

Publications

• Lowe CF, Merrick L, Harrigan PR, Mazzulli T, Sherlock CH, Ritchie G (2015). Implementation of next-generation sequencing for hepatitis B resistance and genotyping in a clinical microbiology laboratory. J Clin Micro. 54(1):127-133.

• Church D, Ambasta A, Willmer A, Williscroft H, Ritchie G, Champagne S, Gregson D (2015). Development and verification of a diagnostic real-time PCR assay for the rapid and accurate detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii. Can J Inf Dis Med Micro.

• Wilmer A, et al. (2013). Polymerase Chain Reaction assay to detect Clostridium difficile tcdC variants is valuable in characterizing hospital epidemiology. J Hosp Infect 84(3):252-255.

• Mattison K, Grudeski E, Ritchie G, et. al. (2011). Analytical performance of Norovirus real-time RT-PCR detection protocols in Canadian laboratories. J Clin Virol, 50(2):109-13.

• Dai LJ, Li HY, Guan LX, Ritchie G, Zhou JX. (2009). The therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on hepatic cirrhosis. Stem Cell Res 2(1):16-25.

• Ritchie G, Dai LJ, Kerstan D, Kang HS, Cole DE, Quamme GA. (2001). Magnesium transport in the renal distal convoluted tubule. Physiol Rev 81:51-84.