Dr. K. McBride is a physician-scientist with extensive expertise in clinical genetics, biochemical genetics, and pediatrics. He holds board certifications from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Pediatrics, and from the American Board of Genetics and Genomics in both Clinical Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Genetics. His academic path includes an MD from the University of Saskatchewan, followed by residency training in Pediatrics at the Mayo Clinic and dual fellowships in Clinical and Biochemical Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, where he also completed a Master’s through the Clinical Scientist Training Program.

As both a clinician and researcher, Dr. McBride cares for children and adults with congenital malformations, inherited disorders, and inborn errors of metabolism. He has a special interest in inherited cardiovascular diseases and lysosomal storage disorders. His laboratory investigates the genetic underpinnings of congenital heart disease and rare disorders, applying genome sequencing, stem cell modeling, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to uncover disease mechanisms and explore potential therapies.

His clinical research includes numerous registries and trials for rare diseases, with a particular focus on small molecule therapies and gene transfer interventions.

At Building Bridges this session will explore the updated American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines for the management and treatment of PKU through both clinical and community lenses. Attendees will gain insight into the rationale behind the recommendations and reflect on their relevance in the Canadian healthcare context. The discussion will also raise the critical question: “Bridging the Gap: Where Are the Guidelines for Our Allied Disorders?”—inviting participants to consider how we support broader metabolic communities in the absence of condition-specific standards.