Enhancing Precision Medicine with Liquid Biopsy
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Enhancing Precision Medicine with Liquid Biopsy
60 minutes + live Q&A
Featured Speakers
Key Questions We Will Answer
- Importance of precision medicine and precision oncology
- Liquid biopsy for monitoring cancer
- Understanding the composition of plasma and its utility for cancer diagnosis
- Recent advancement in digital PCR
- NGS as a diagnostic tool
Who Should Attend:
- CLIA Labs
- Ontario Diagnostic Labs
- Contact Research Organizations
- Core facilities
- Biobanks
Abstract
The identification of any changes through molecular profiling of tumor nucleic acids is known as precision medicine. In oncology, precision medicine is a combination between the identification of cancer through the use of a patients own genes/proteins, and administering a suitable treatment with an appropriate dose. Traditionally, the molecular profiling of tumors relied on acquiring tissue biopsies. However, acquiring tissue biopsies is considered a highly invasive technique and limits the possibility for mass population screening for the early detection of cancer. Liquid biopsy has received a great deal of attention as a promising, non-invasive alternative to tissue biopsy for the profiling of circulating-tumor DNA (ct-DNA), circulating-tumor RNA (ct-RNA), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). With recent advancements in both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR, molecular profiling of cell-free circulating nucleic acids purified from liquid biopsy has significantly improved the outcome of early detection, as well as monitoring the development and progression of cancer.
In this MasterClass, we will present the extensive work that has been done by Cancer Treatment Options and Management Inc. (CTOAM). Using Norgen’s plasma/serum workflow, CTOAM has utilized plasma as a liquid biopsy sample type for identifying cancer in undiagnosed patients, monitoring the efficiency of cancer treatment, and identifying patients in remission or with early recurrence. For this purpose, CTOAM has created 100’s of custom TaqMan probes that are used to monitor cancer patients. Additionally, CTOAM has developed unique RNA seq-based expression protocols for 20,000 genes from tumour associated exosomes from cancer patients. Join us in this MasterClass on Wednesday, February 8th @ 10:30 AM ET to learn more about the importance of Enhancing Precision Medicine Using Liquid Biopsy.
About the Speakers
Dr. M. Abdalla
Dr. Abdalla, MSc, PhD is the Director of Marketing & Sales at Norgen Biotek Corp., Senior Research Scientist and has taken on the role of Laboratory Director for Norgen’s COVID-19 testing service. Succeeding his masters in Biochemistry at Alexandria University, Egypt, Dr. Abdalla completed his PhD at Brock University, where he specialized in HCV-related liver cancer biomarker discovery from urine. Dr. Abdalla joined the team at Norgen Biotek over 14 years ago, specializing in sample preparation from challenging samples and molecular diagnostics. During his time at Norgen, Dr. Abdalla has developed many cutting-edge research and diagnostic tools for scientific use. As the Director of Marketing and Sales, he and his team strategically employed global awareness initiatives that would position Norgen as a thought leader within the industry. He leveraged Norgen’s outstanding technology, developed in-house, to laboratories and ensured a quality product was always distributed to the labs in need. With his team of research scientists, they ensured the efficacy of Norgen’s testing service and the high performance of Norgen’s products.
Alex Rolland
Precision Oncology expert, Alexander Rolland, is Director of Scientific Research and co-founder of Cancer Treatment Options and Management. Alex is committed to ensuring that anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis has access to the most effective, and least invasive, form of treatment possible.
Alex holds a BSc in Molecular/Cell Biology from the University of Victoria, and completed his PhD coursework in Medical Genetics at UBC while at the renowned Terry Fox Laboratory in Vancouver (BC Cancer Agency). He excelled in courses on cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, organic chemistry, medical genetics, bioinformatics, and ecology, and specialized in epigenetics-based regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways.
Alex has led multiple research studies at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia, and taught cell biology and genetics labs at the University of Victoria, BC. He's also used his expertise to partner with oncologists at the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins, and other leading cancer treatment centers.
With over a decade of experience researching, consulting, and advocating for cancer patients, Alex also works directly with the medical system to explore the newest optimal treatments for his clients. He's an expert in discovering how to optimize your cancer treatment, and making this a reality for you.