Who We Are

What is Early Check / Who We Are

Who We Are

Early Check is a research study offering free additional screening tests in North Carolina. The study is being led by well-known research institutions across the state.

Our Story

Early Check is led by RTI International, a nonprofit research institute whose mission is to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. RTI's headquarters are in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

RTI and our partners developed Early Check through our focus on improving the lives of individuals and families affected by special healthcare needs. Read more about our story.

Who are our partners?

Our team brings multiple perspectives that will help us achieve our goal to improve the well-being of babies and families across the state and beyond.

We are working with the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH) to make Early Check possible. Early Check uses the same blood sample taken from a newborn’s heel in the hospital. NCSLPH conducts the tests on these blood samples for all babies born in the state.

Our other partners include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University.

Meet our team members.

"The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health is excited to be advancing the science of newborn screening through our partnership with RTI."

Scott J. Zimmerman, DrPH, MPH, Former Director of NCSLPH

Our Funders

Early Check is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences program. It will receive $1 million per year over 5 years to launch and sustain the program statewide.

Other support is provided by:

Previous supporters include: 

Meet Our Team

Our team brings a range of expertise to newborn screening, including medical genetics; laboratory testing; genetic counseling; health communication; public health; informed decision making; ethics; family adaptation; special education; and child assessment.

Click the links below to meet the RTI team and our partners.

Don Bailey, PhD Distinguished Fellow Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Lisa Gehtland, MD Research Public Health Analyst Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Megan Lewis, PhD Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Patient and Family Engagement Research Program
Ryan Paquin, PhD Research Public Health Analyst
Holly Peay, MS, PhD, CGC Senior Researcher, Certified Genetic Counselor Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Melissa Raspa, PhD Senior Research Public Health Analyst and Program Director Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Anne Wheeler, PhD Senior Research Public Health Analyst Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Beth Boyea, MS Certified Genetic Counselor Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Katherine "Casey" Okoniewski, PhD Psychologist Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center
Cynthia Powell, MD, MS Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics
Zheng (Jane) Fan, MD Associate Professor of Child Neurology, Sleep Medicine & Clinical Genetics
Kristin L. Clinard, MS, CGC Genetic Counselor & Clinical Instructor Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics
Michael Charles Cotten, MD Professor of Pediatrics Chief, Division of Neonatology