Faculty Detail   
Name RONALD T ACTON
  
Campus Address BBRB 276 Zip 2170
Phone  (205) 934-2362
E-mail  acton@uab.edu
Other websites
    

Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Microbiology  Microbiology Professor Emeritus
Center  Comprehensive Diabetes Ctr (Org Ret)  Comprehensive Diabetes Ctr (Org Ret) Professor Emeritus
Center  Integrative Center for Aging Research  Integrative Center for Aging Research Professor Emeritus
Center  Nutrition Sciences Research  Nutrition Obesity Res Ctr (NORC) Professor Emeritus

Biographical Sketch 
Ronald T. Acton (b. 1941) is Professor in the Departments of Microbiology, Medicine and Epidemiology. He was one the first investigators to observe immune recognition in invertebrates during his doctoral studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (Ph.D., 1970). During postdoctoral studies at UAB, in the laboratory of Dr. J. Claude Bennett, he observed a unique tetrametic IgM-like immunoglobulin in three orders of fishes. He then performed postdoctoral studies in immunogenetics with Dr. Ray H. Owens at the California Institute of Technology, followed by postdoctoral studies with Professor Rodney R. Porter in Oxford. Upon returning to UAB in 1973 he developed the Immunogenetics Program. He has served on two NIH Study Sections and is a frequent Ad Hoc Reviewer for the NIH. His outside interests include his family, dancing and antique auto collecting.

Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Immunogenetics
Description
The Immunogenetics Program has a number of ongoing studies to evaluate the role of genes in predisposing individuals to disease states. Presently our funded programs consists of studies of non-insulin dependent diabetes in African Americans, of genetic predisposition to cariogenic bacteria and caries and genes which predispose to hemochromatosis. A large database of information collected from previous studies of genetic disorders is also available for analysis. Our approach is to utilize recombinant DNA techniques to identify candidate genes that may predispose an individual to a given disease state and/or be used to clinically subcategorize the disease or predict outcome. This approach involves collecting and correlating extended family history of disease information, looking for genetic variants by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, polymerase chain reaction analysis or through nucleotide sequencing, obtaining lifestyle information and clinical laboratory values. In addition, the Immunogenetics Program is linked to the Immunogenetics/DNA Diagnostic Laboratory which conducts genetic testing for a number of genetic disorders, as well as paternity and forensic cases. Projects are available to establish and validate genetic tests used for these purposes.