The presentations during the FDA-AACR Liquid Biopsies in Oncology Drug and Device Development Workshop on July 19, 2016 included several important pieces of information that will likely guide the development of assays and their review by the FDA.

Topics: Diagnostics, LDT, Cancer Test, Circulating Tumor DNA, Clinical Testing, NGS, Precision Medicine, Mutation, ctDNA, FDA, Test Development, Reference Material, Oncology

Mary-Claire King is Professor of Genome Sciences and of Medicine (Medical Genetics) at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA), who first described a single gene on chromosome 17q21 (which she named BRCA1) being responsible for breast and ovarian cancer in many families. This work, published in Science in 1990, also revolutionized the study of many other common, single-gene diseases that are inherited in nature, and led to the discovery of BRCA2. 

 

Topics: Cancer, Inherited Disease, Oncology

We are living through a time of rapid change in the clinical genetics laboratory, though at times it may appear that change doesn’t occur fast enough given the challenges within the existing healthcare system. At the recent Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference held in San Francisco March 7 through 11 2016, here are a few summary highlights of the conference.

Topics: Cancer, Circulating Tumor DNA, Inherited Disease, Genetics, Genomics, ctDNA, Reference Material, Oncology, Rare Disease

The Keystone Symposia is an organization with 44 years of history on specialized topics across the fields of molecular and cellular biology. This week in Banff, Alberta, Canada is a Keystone Symposia conference called The Cancer Genome, along with a joint meeting on Genomics and Personalized Medicine. Their Twitter description (@KeystoneSymp) describes the Keystone organization as “A catalyst for accelerating life science discovery and connecting scientists within and across disciplines at symposia worldwide”.

Topics: Cancer Test, Circulating Tumor DNA, Precision Medicine, Variation, Mutation, ctDNA, Test Development, Reference Material, Oncology, SeraSeq

 

Micrograph of Lung Carcinoma Fine Needle Aspirate courtesy of Ed Uthman via Flickr

This year's Association for Molecular Pathology conference was held in Austin Texas November 4-7 2015 had the theme of 'Realizing the Dream of Precision Medicine'. Here are a few of the presentations that stood out as outstanding, and the conference program indicates where the field of molecular pathology currently places its emphasis (which is primarily oncology) and where it may be headed in the coming years (including rare genetic disorders, non-invasive prenatal testing, and even a plenary on the human microbiome).

Topics: Cancer, Pathology, Precision Medicine, Association, Oncology, Amp, CML, Therapy, Bcr-abl

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was founded 'to provide structure and leadership to the emerging field of molecular diagnostics', and publishes the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

Topics: Cancer, LDT, Molecular Diagnostics, Accuplex, NIPS, Nipt, Prenatal Test, Posters, Standard, Oncology, SeraSeq, Amp, Conference, Molecular Pathology, Recombinant Virus

 

The annual meeting of the Association for Molecular Pathology will be held this year in Austin Texas from November 4-7, 2015. Laboratory Directors, Medical Directors and Pathologists worldwide will be hearing about the latest in clinical laboratory practices as well as the latest translational research being applied in the clinical setting.

Topics: NIPS, Meeting, Posters, Oncology, Amp, Conference, Molecular Pathology, Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

 

There are many challenges for pediatric patients struggling with recurrent or refractory cancer but a recent report and accompanying editorial published in the Journal of American Medical Association brings new hope for patients and their families.^{1 2}This three year study also demonstrates how the principles of precision medicine can be successfully applied with existing DNA and RNA sequencing technologies for many patients.

Topics: Cancer, Cancer Test, Whole Exome, NGS, RNA-seq, Oncology, Pediatric, Patient Outcome

Dr. Condie Carmack has over 30 years of experience in the life sciences and diagnostic industries, having been prior to GenomOncology the Director of Oncology Programs at Vela Diagnostics, developing an NGS-based system for worldwide regulatory approval, and prior to that helped found (as General Manager) the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine with Dr. Marilyn Li.

Topics: LDT, Test Development, Oncology, Interview

In this video interview, SeraCare’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Russell Garlick shares some background about  SeraCare’s history of manufacturing controls and reference materials for infectious  disease diagnostics, and how advances in Precision Medicine reveal a need for similar materials for the fields of oncology and maternal health.

Topics: Cancer, NGS, Precision Medicine, Maternal Test, Prenatal Test, Reference Material, Standard, Test, Oncology, Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing