FSU IPRD DIAGNOSTIC LAB

Personnel

Cynthia Vied, Ph.D., serves as Associate Director for Genomics at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) and the Scientific Director of the IPRD CLIA-certified Diagnostic Laboratory. She provides operational and strategic leadership of the whole genome sequencing workflows, regulatory compliance, quality systems, and data analysis pipelines. With a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and post-doctoral training at Columbia University, New York, NY, she brings extensive experience in multi-omics technologies and translational genomics. Since joining FSU, she has been central to building the institution’s genomics infrastructure and plays a key role in advancing rare-disease diagnostics and research through innovative sequencing, bioinformatics, and laboratory leadership.

Theresa Bostock, M.S., MLS (ASCP) SBB is the Technical Supervisor of the IPRD CLIA–certified Whole Genome Sequencing Laboratory, where she oversees day-to-day laboratory operations, quality management systems, and regulatory compliance to ensure the highest standards of clinical genomic testing. She brings more than three decades of experience directing complex clinical and pathology laboratories, with extensive expertise in CLIA, CAP, AABB, FDA, Joint Commission, and state regulatory frameworks. Prior to joining IPRD, Ms. Bostock served as Administrative Laboratory Director at HCA Florida Capital Hospital and Garnet Health, where she led large multidisciplinary teams, managed operational and capital budgets, and implemented major process-improvement and accreditation initiatives across multiple hospital laboratories. She is licensed as a Florida Clinical Laboratory Supervisor and holds American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist with Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) credentials. Ms. Bostock earned her Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Management with a minor in Immunohematology from Rush University, Chicago, IL. At IPRD, she applies her extensive leadership, regulatory, and technical experience to build and maintain a high-performing genomics laboratory that supports the institute’s precision medicine mission.

Peter Hayek, M.S., MLS (ASCP) is a Medical Laboratory Technologist in the IPRD’s CLIA-certified Whole Genome Sequencing Laboratory, where he supports clinical genomics operations through high-quality sample processing, molecular testing, and laboratory workflow management. Mr. Hayek brings twenty years of experience across clinical, hospital, research, and military laboratory settings, including service as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the U.S. Army and positions in microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and molecular diagnostics. His prior work includes contributions to COVID-19 RT-PCR testing at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital–FSU Rapid Response Laboratory; microbiology and molecular diagnostics at UF Health Shands Hospital; and broad MLS generalist responsibilities in emergency, hospital, and standalone clinical laboratories. Mr. Hayek holds an M.S. in Physiology from New York Medical College, an M.S. in Biology with specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology from the Lebanese American University, Lebanon, and Florida licensure as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. His skills span PCR, plasmid construction, microbial identification, immunofluorescence imaging, and clinical chemistry and hematology platforms. At IPRD, he plays a key role in ensuring accurate, reliable genomic data generation to support the institute’s mission in precision medicine for pediatric rare diseases.

Andrew Young, M.D., Ph.D., is the Medical Director of the Southeast Region for Quest Diagnostics, leading a team of clinical pathologists to provide medical and quality oversight of major laboratories in Atlanta, Tampa, Miami and Greensboro NC, as well as a network of rapid response laboratories and managed hospital laboratories.

He earned M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Medical Scientist Training Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed postgraduate training at Emory University in Atlanta, including residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and fellowship in Molecular Diagnostics. Young has been active in teaching and biomedical research throughout his career. He established novel pathology residency rotations at Emory and UPMC, focused on laboratory administration. Prior to joining Quest, he served as a principal investigator in the Emory‐Georgia Tech Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, working on novel systems for gene expression profiling and data informatics, in order to establish nanoparticle‐based molecular probes for cancer diagnosis.