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Peter M. Vallone (Fed)

Leader, Applied Genetics Group

Peter M. Vallone received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999.  Afterward, he was awarded an NRC postdoctoral fellowship that brought him to the Biotechnology Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  Over the last 22 years at NIST, Dr. Vallone has developed multiplex PCR assays for the detection of genetic variation, developed methods for the rapid amplification of STR loci, and has been involved in the characterization of nucleic acid-based reference materials. 

As the leader of the Applied Genetics Group at NIST since 2013, Dr. Vallone works with a team of researchers producing DNA reference materials, assessing emerging techniques such as next-generation sequencing and digital PCR.  The group efforts provide research and training that supports the forensic DNA community.  Dr. Vallone has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of DNA thermodynamics and human identity testing.

Awards

2021 United States of America Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service for the rapid development of a SARS-CoV-2 Research Grade Test Material, RGTM 10169, to assess RNA-based diagnostic tests and benchmark SARS-CoV-2 test control materials.

2021 JUDSON C. FRENCH AWARD: for development and characterization of a next-generation forensic DNA Standard Reference Material using a diverse suite of molecular techniques. 

2020 United States of America Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service for developing a suite of human genome metrology tools via a NIST-led consortium to make it possible to decipher life's code with unprecedented rigor.

2020 NIST -  MML Accolade Award (For the rapid development of nucleic acid-based measurement methods and standards, including RGTM 10169: SARS-CoV-2 Synthetic RNA Fragments, to support detection and characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a cross-division and -OU multidisciplinary, teamwork effort.)

2014  United States of America Department of Commerce Silver Medal Award for Meritorious Achievement in the Federal Service (For the development of rapid forensic DNA typing techniques that enable state-of-the-art human identity testing and DNA biometrics.)

2009 International Society of Forensic Genetics, Best Poster Prize Award

2008  United States of America Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service

1999 NRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship National Institute of Standards and Technology

Publications

Digital PCR for the Characterization of Reference Materials

Author(s)
Megan Cleveland, Hua-Jun He, Mojca Milavec, Young-Kyung Bae, Peter Vallone, Jim Huggett
Well characterized reference materials are essential to ensuring the harmonization and accuracy of nucleic acid-based tests (such as qPCR); digital PCR (dPCR)

Results of German external quality assessment schemes for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection

Author(s)
Laura Vierbaum, Nathalie Wojtalewicz, Peter Grunert, Anika Zimmerman, Annemarie Scholz, Sabine Goseberg, Patricia Kaiser, Ulf Duehring, Christian Drosten, Victor Max Corman, Daniela Niemeyer, Holger F. Rabenau, Martin Obermeier, Andreas Nitsche, Janine Michel, Jim Huggett, Denise O'Sullivan, Simon Cowen, Peter Vallone, Megan Cleveland, Samreen Falak, Andreas Kummrow, Ingo Schellenberg, Heinz Zeichhardt, Martin Kammel
The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the important role of diagnostic tests, including lateral flow tests (LFTs), in identifying patients and their contacts to

U.S. population data for 94 identity informative SNP loci

Author(s)
Kevin Kiesler, Lisa Borsuk, Becky Steffen, Peter Vallone, Katherine Gettings
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology analyzed a set of 1036 samples representing four major U.S. population groups (African American, Asian

Patents (2018-Present)

Agile Nucleic Acid Sensor And Measuring A Biomarker

NIST Inventors
Kevin Kiesler , Alokik Kanwal , Anthony J. Kearsley , Erica Romsos , Peter M. Vallone , Jacob Majikes and Arvind Balijepalli
An agile nucleic acid sensor includes: a DNA switch; an analysis substrate in electrostatic communication with the DNA switch and that produces a biomarker electrical signal; a transduction member that receives the biomarker electrical signal and produces a transduction signal; a sensor counter

System And Method For Data Analysis In Quantitative PCR Measurements

NIST Inventors
Anthony J. Kearsley , Paul Patrone , Erica Romsos and Peter M. Vallone
In quantitative polymerase chain-reaction (qPCR) measurements, accurately subtracting background signals, quantifying the amount of DNA, and ensuring fidelity of data analysis and diagnostic tests is challenging. Such problems are especially acute for emerging / novel diseases that lack thoroughly
Created May 31, 2018, Updated December 8, 2022