Chicago Center for Jewish Genetics Disorders - About the Center - Who We Are

Joel Charrow, MD, is the director of the Section of Clinical Genetics and the Genetics Laboratory at Children's Memorial Hospital, and professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. He received his bachelor's degree from Antioch College and his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His post-doctoral training in pediatrics and clinical and biochemical genetics were at Children's Memorial Hospital. He is board certified in pediatrics, clinical genetics, and biochemical genetics. He is a regular contributor to the Center is also the chair of the Center's Scientific Advisory Committee.

Dr. Charrow's clinical interests are mainly in the area of biochemical genetics, neurofibromatosis, and skeletal dysplasias. He is co-director of the Neurofibromatosis Clinic and the Skeletal Dysplasia Center at Children's Memorial. He has been involved with Jewish genetic disorders since the beginning of his career, directing both research and diagnostic laboratories in this area. Currently, Dr. Charrow directs the Comprehensive Gaucher Disease Program and is a regional coordinator of the International Collaborative Gaucher Group. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association, and the chairman of its Laboratory Quality Control Subcommittee. We are proud to say that he is a member of the executive committee and a founder of the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders. His laboratory at Children's Memorial has been conducting Tay-Sachs carrier screening since 1981, and performs diagnostic testing for many other Jewish genetic disorders.

Dr. Charrow's research interests include the natural history of genetic disorders, with concentration on neurofibromatosis and Gaucher disease, developing optimal strategies for treating Gaucher disease, and studying the methods and pitfalls of population screening for genetic disorders. He has published over 40 scientific papers.