Melissa Parra, MS, CGC is the of Director, Product Development at Ambry Genetics. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Genetics from UC Davis and Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from California State University, Northridge.
Ms. Parra previously worked as a cytogenetics technologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She then worked as a prenatal genetic counselor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before taking a position at the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at City of Hope as a laboratory genetic counselor assisting in coordinating genetic testing and results interpretation for cancer genetics, genetic coagulopathies, neuromuscular conditions, connective tissue disorders, and intellectual disability.
Ms. Parra joined Ambry Genetics in 2010 overseeing the launch and reporting of Ambry’s first NextGen sequencing platform, a panel of 81 genes associated with X-linked intellectual disability. In 2014 Ms. Parra began managing the reporting genetic counseling team and further focused on overseeing launches of new tests including EpilepsyNext, Neurodevelopment panels, and updates to Ambry’s Cardio and Cancer panels. In 2015, Melissa moved into the role of Director of Product Development and has overseen the launches of products on Ambry’s testing menu, including Cancer, Cardio, Neurology, and RNAInsight offerings as well as oversite of the CARE patient screening platform.