Karra Jones, MD, PhD, has been appointed as the new director of our Electron Microscopy and Immunochemistry Laboratory (EM/ICL). Jones also serves as an associate professor of Neuropathology, section head of Muscle & Nerve Pathology, and as the Neuropathology Fellowship Program director.
Since her arrival at Duke in April, 2022, Jones has been working towards expansion of the neuromuscular service to allow for a larger outreach capacity and enhanced tissue analysis modalities, working with Anne Buckley, MD, PhD, and colleagues in neuropathology and the outstanding Immunochemistry Lab.
Jones received her MD and PhD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed her anatomic pathology residency and neuropathology fellowship at the University of California, San Diego where she subsequently practiced diagnostic neuropathology, led the neuromuscular pathology service, and had a leadership role in UCSD’s Biorepository and Tissue Technology Shared Resource Laboratory.
Before her appointment at Duke, Jones was a neuropathologist at the University of Iowa, where she expanded her neuromuscular expertise with Iowa’s nationally recognized consultative muscle pathology service and began working as a consultant for genetic muscular dystrophy and myopathy gene therapy trials.
Outside of Duke, she has leadership roles in the American Association of Neuropathologists as the current Assistant Secretary Treasurer and Chair of the Education Committee. Dr. Jones is also a member of the College of American Pathologists Neuropathology Committee.
“I would also like to thank Dr. Anne Buckley for her excellent leadership as the Director of our EM/ICL laboratory for over five years,” said Diana Cardona, MD, director, DUHS Anatomic Pathology Labs. “During that time she has helped manage and guide the team through lab moves, equipment failures/validations, staff turnover and the transition of Dermatology Immunofluorescence to her lab. Dr. Buckley has patiently waited for someone like Dr. Jones to join our department in order to hand over the reins and allow her to focus on other academic initiatives. It has been such a pleasure working alongside Dr. Buckley in this capacity and I know that her team has truly valued her calm demeanor and open-door policy,” continued Cardona.