Standardization and automation for liquid biopsy solutions in oncology

Tecan welcomes you to a breakfast roundtable discussion, where you hear different viewpoints on how to accelerate the development, validation and clinical use of liquid biopsy assays and innovative technologies to better inform medical decisions and improve patient care and outcomes.

Participating in this discussion with Tecan and ready to engage with you on this important topic is Lauren Leiman, Executive Director of BLOODPAC, Dr. Alanna Church, MD, Associate Director of the Laboratory for Molecular Pediatric Profiling at Boston Children's Hospital and Jonathan Beer, Senior Director of Diagnostic Sciences at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Lauren Leiman will discuss how the BLOODPAC consortium, which comprises over sixty organizations within academia, industry, government and the nonprofit sector works collaboratively to create frameworks and best practices to accelerate liquid biopsy assay development and implementation. BLOODPAC's recent work in creating standards for the collection and utilization of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) liquid biopsy for brain tumor care will also be highlighted.

Dr. Church, who is also Program Director for the Harvard Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship, will add her viewpoint on how liquid biopsy is a compelling emerging technology to support the care of children with cancer with potential benefits including minimizing invasive procedures in growing bodies, improved diagnostics and risk stratification, monitoring response to treatment and identification of early relapse. She will also point out that the challenges in pediatrics include small samples, the use of fusions as biomarkers, limited data related to rare diagnoses and limited access for children to targeted treatment.

Jonathan Beer will provide an overview of how Bristol Myers Squibb is extremely active in the retrospective testing of MRD from subjects in clinical trials, having published data with CheckMate 915, 235 and 76K. He has particular insights about the logistical challenges in clinical trial use and his team at BMS was involved in efforts to establish bTMB as a clinical endpoint.

While moderating the discussion between these experts, Tecan will present liquid biopsy automation tools and the role that Tecan plays in these processes and in promoting collaboration, from early-stage innovation through project implementation and beyond for the shared purpose of improving people’s lives and health. Together, the panel's aim is to arrive at standardized and automated solutions for liquid biopsy in oncology to shape a brighter, healthier future for patients across the world.

We encourage you to join this discussion.