Associate Dean for Genomic Medicine and Distinguished Professor of Genetics, Bruce Korf, M.D., Ph.D., FACMG, retired on September 30, 2024, after over 40 years of dedicated service, and over 20 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Before coming to UAB, Korf served as clinical director and associate chief of the Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Genetics, and was the medical director of the Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics.

Korf arrived at UAB in 2003 and was named the Wayne H. and Sara Crews Finley Chair in Medical Genetics, as well as the inaugural chair of the Department of Genetics.

Aside from his role at UAB, Korf has served multiple national leadership roles, including president of the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics, president of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), and president of the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine. He also served as chair of the Medical Affairs Committee of the Children’s Tumor Foundation and as member of the Boards of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). He was recently named to the Scientific Advisory Council for NHGRI. During his tenure, the American Society for Human Genetics awarded him the 2009 Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education in recognition of his commitment to professional education in genetics and genomics.

Korf has made significant contributions to medical research during his time at UAB, leading UAB’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP). The program, established in 2013, provides multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments to children and adults with chronic, undiagnosed medical conditions. Under Korf’s leadership, the UAB UDP became recognized as a Diagnostic Center of Excellence in 2023, then as an X01 site and now as a U01-funded site.

“I feel that this is the right time to give others a chance to take a leadership role in the program,” Korf said.

“Many people choose to remain active professionally as long as they are able, a perspective I respect. I also take a stance for making room for those you’ve mentored to grow and make their own marks. I have spent much of my professional career mentoring others to ensure the next generation of researchers and clinicians have the resources needed to expand the field and continue to improve treatment options for patients.”

He additionally has led two population-level genomics projects, the All of Us Southern Network and the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative. With Korf as principal investigator, the All of Us Southern Network has had nearly half of the 40,000 core participants as enrollees come from UAB.

Over his four-decade career, Korf has authored nearly 160 peer-reviewed publications, over 90 non-peer-reviewed manuscripts, 60 book chapters, and 18 books.
Korf has been at the forefront of neurofibromatosis research, becoming a world-renowned expert and leading the effort to evolve it from clinical diagnosis and surveillance to the possibility of treatment. Additionally, he served as the principal investigator of the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium, a Department of Defense-funded research program that allows researchers around the country to allocate administrative resources, share findings, and recruit study participants to increase treatment options for persons with NF.

“I found Dr. Korf to be an individual that was incredibly approachable and great to work with, and you could always see the care that he had for his patients,” said Anindya Dutta, Ph.D., current chair of the Department of Genetics.

“I think that he has been amazing for UAB. While I am regretful that Dr. Korf has decided to step down, I am also thrilled that he will still be running some grants and helping with clinical trials.”

Earlier this year, Korf was named the recipient of the 2024 American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine’s David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Genetics. The award is the highest honor given by the ACMG Foundation and recognizes individuals with careers that have significantly contributed to genetics and genomics.