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Michael J. Becich, MD, PhD
- Distinguished University Professor of Biomedical Informatics
- Professor, Bioengineering; Professor, Clinical and Translational Science
- Professor, Computing and Information; Professor, Pathology
- Founder, Association for Pathology Informatics; Founder, Pathology Informatics Summit
Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) | University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Biography
Dr. Michael J. Becich is Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the inaugural Chair of the department from 2006 to 2025. He also holds appointments in Bioengineering, Computing and Information, Clinical and Translational Science, and Pathology. A board-certified anatomic pathologist, Dr. Becich has dedicated his career to advancing the science and infrastructure of biomedical informatics — from pathology informatics and digital pathology to cancer data resources, tissue banking, and large-scale translational research networks. He is founder of the Association for Pathology Informatics and the annual Pathology Informatics Summit.
Computational & Clinical Expertise
Dr. Becich is a board-certified anatomic pathologist whose clinical expertise includes pathology and pathology informatics. His clinical informatics work has focused on digital pathology, cancer informatics, tissue banking, and the integration of electronic health care data with clinical and research systems. He has led the design of biospecimen informatics systems and standards-based information infrastructures used in national translational research consortia.
Research Interests
Dr. Becich’s research has focused on pathology informatics, cancer informatics, and the creation of standards-based information infrastructures for translational research. He has led efforts in tissue banking, biospecimen informatics, shared pathology networks, and large-scale data resources that enable multi-institutional research. He is principal investigator of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, a federally funded biorepository and data resource supporting rare cancer research, and has been instrumental in building PCORnet and other national clinical research networks.
Specialties
- Translational Research Informatics
- Biomedical Data Infrastructure
- Tissue Banking Informatics
- Pathology Informatics
- Cancer Informatics
- Digital Pathology
Education & Training
- B.A., BiologyNorthwestern University, Evanston, IL1973–1977
- M.D., Ph.D.Northwestern University, Chicago, IL1977–1984
- Fellowship, Urologic PathologyUniversity of Nebraska, Omaha, NE1982–1983
- Anatomic Pathology ResidencyWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO1984–1987
- Experimental PathologyWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO1987–1989
Certifications
- Diplomate, Anatomic PathologyAmerican Board of Pathology1989–present
- Medical LicensurePennsylvania State Board of Medicine1991–present
- Controlled Substances RegistrationU.S. Department of Justice, DEA1991–present
Awards & Distinctions
- Distinguished University ProfessorUniversity of Pittsburgh2017
- Elected FellowAmerican College of Medical Informatics2006
- Intel Internet Health HeroIntel1999
- Pioneer AwardMesothelioma Applied Research Foundation2022
Representative Publications
Rashid R, Copelli S, Silverstein JC, Becich MJ. REDCap and the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank — a scalable and sustainable model for rare disease biorepositories. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2023;30(10):1634–1644. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocad132. PMID: 37487555.
Visweswaran S, McLay B, Cappella N, Morris M, Milnes JT, Reis SE, Silverstein JC, Becich MJ. An atomic approach to the design and implementation of a research data warehouse. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2022;29(4):601–608. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab204. PMID: 34613409.
Louis DN, Feldman M, Carter AB, …Becich MJ. Computational Pathology: A Path Ahead. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016;140(1):41–50. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2015-0093-SA.
Luo JH, Yu YP, Cieply K, Lin F, Deflavia P, Dhir R, Finkelstein S, Michalopoulos G, Becich MJ. Gene expression analysis of prostate cancers. Mol Carcinog. 2002;33(1):25–35. doi: 10.1002/mc.10018. PMID: 11807955.
Becich MJ. The role of the pathologist as tissue refiner and data miner: the impact of functional genomics on the modern pathology laboratory and the critical roles of pathology informatics and bioinformatics. Mol Diagn. 2000;5(4):287–299. doi: 10.1007/BF03262090.
Research Grants
| Grant / Funding Agency | Role | Grant Number | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank — Continued and Expansion for Translational Research NIOSH / CDC | PI | 5U25-OH009077 | 2006–Present |
| PaTH to Health: PCORnet Clinical Research Network PCORI | MPI | RI-PITT-01-PS8 | 2020–Present |
| University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute NIH/NCATS | Co-I | 2UL1 TR001857 | 2006–Present |
Trainees
| Trainee | Degree Program / Role & Years |
|---|---|
| Rumana Rashid | MD/PhD — Research Advisor (2020–2026) |
| Chenyu Li | PhD Candidate — Research Advisor (2021–present) |