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Real Time Conferecence Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference Philadelphia PA November 1,2 2024  Deliverables

Curator: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.

Below are deliverables in form of real Time conference coverage from the Advancing Precision Medicine Confererence held this year in Philadelphia, PA.  The meeting brought together scientists and clinicians to discuss the challenges faced in implementing genomics and proteomics into precision medicine decision making workflow.  As summarized by a future release at the 2025 ASCO, there are many issues and hindrances to incorporating data obtained from sequencing to make a personalized medicine strategy.  The meeting focused on two main disease states: oncology and cardiovascular however most of  the live meeting notes are from the oncology tract.  In general it was discussed there are three areas which need to be addressed to correctly and more frequently incorporate precision medicine and genomic panel testing into clinical decision making workflow:

  1.  access to testing panels and testing methodology for both doctors and patients
  2. expert interpretation of results including algorithms needed to analyze the data
  3. more education of molecular biology and omics data and methodology in medical school to address knowledge gaps between clinicians and scientists

The issues can be summarized by a JCO report to ASCO in 2022:

 Helen Sadik, PhDDaryl Pritchard, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2675-0371 dpritchard@personalizedmedicinecoalition.orgDerry-Mae Keeling, BScFrank Policht, PhDPeter Riccelli, PhDGretta Stone, BSKira Finkel, MSPHJeff Schreier, MBA, and Susanne Munksted, MS.  Impact of Clinical Practice Gaps on the Implementation of Personalized Medicine in Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. 2022: JCO Precision Oncology; Volume 6. https://doi.org/10.1200/PO.22.00246

Personalized medicine presents new opportunities for patients with cancer. However, many patients do not receive the most effective personalized treatments because of challenges associated with integrating predictive biomarker testing into clinical care. Patients are lost at various steps along the precision oncology pathway because of operational inefficiencies, limited understanding of biomarker strategies, inappropriate testing result usage, and access barriers. We examine the impact of various clinical practice gaps associated with diagnostic testing-informed personalized medicine strategies on the treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC).

The authors used a  Diaceutics’ Data Repository, a multisource database including commercial and Medicare claims and laboratory data from over 500,000 patients with non–small-cell lung cancer in the United States. They  analyzed the number of patients with newly diagnosed aNSCLC who could have, but did not, benefit from a personalized treatment. The analysis was focused on identifying the gaps and at which steps during care did gaps existed which precipitated either lack of use of precision medicine testing or incorrect interpretation of results.

Their conclusions were alarming:

Most patients with aNSCLC eligible for precision oncology treatments do not benefit from them because of clinical practice gaps. This finding is likely reflective of similar gaps in other cancer types. An increased understanding of the impact of each practice gap can inform strategies to improve the delivery of precision oncology, helping to fully realize the promise of personalized medicine.

The links to the live meeting notes are given below and collection of tweets follow (please note this meeting did not have a Twitter hashtag)

Real Time Coverage Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 1,2 2024

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2024/11/01/real-time-coverage-advancing-precision-medicine-annual-conference-philadelphia-pa-november-12-2024/

Real Time Coverage Morning Session on Precision Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 1 2024

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2024/11/01/real-time-coverage-morning-session-on-precision-oncology-advancing-precision-medicine-annual-conference-philadelphia-pa-november-1-2024/

Real Time Coverage Afternoon Session on Precision Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 1 2024

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2024/11/01/real-time-coverage-afternoon-session-on-precision-oncology-advancing-precision-medicine-annual-conference-philadelphia-pa-november-1-2024/ 

Real Time Coverage Morning Session on Precision Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 2 2024

https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2024/11/04/real-time-coverage-morning-session-on-precision-oncology-advancing-precision-medicine-annual-conference-philadelphia-pa-november-2-2024/ 

Tweet Collection

Tweet Collection Advancing Precision Medicine Conference November 1,2 2024 Philadelphia PA

 

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Real Time Conference Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference, Afternoon Session October 4 2025

Real Time Conference Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference, Afternoon Session  October 4 2025

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intellegence will be covering this conference LIVE over X.com at

@pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@AVIVA1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine #WINSYMPO2025

1:40 – 2:30

AI in Precision Medicine

Dr. Ganhui Lan
Dr. Xiaoyan Wang
Dr. Ahmad P. Tafti
Jen Gilburg

Jen Gilburg (moderator)Deputy Secretary of Technology and Entrepreneurship, Dept. of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

  • AI will help reduce time for drug development especially in early phase of discovery but eventually help in all phases
  • Ganhui: for drug regulators might be more amenable to AI in clinical trials; AI may be used differently by clinicians
  • nonprofit in Philadelphia using AI to repurpose drugs (this site has posted on this and article will be included here)
  • Ganhui: top challenge of AI in Pharma; rapid evolution of AI and have to have core understanding of your needs and dependencies; realistic view of what can be done; AI has to have iterative learning; also huge vertical challenge meaning how can we allign the use of AI through the healthcare vertical layer chain like clinicians, payers, etc.
  • Ganhui sees a challenge for health companies to understand how to use AI in business to technology; AI in AI companies is different need than AI in healthcare companies
  • 95% of AI projects not successful because most projects are very discrete use

2:00-2:20

Building Precision Oncology Infrastructure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

Sewanti Limaye, MD, Director, Medical & Precision Oncology; Director Clinical and Translational Oncology Research, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Founder, Nova Precision AI; Co-Founder, Iylon Precision Oncology; Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Coalition Against Lung Cancer; Co-Chair,  Asia Pacific Immuno-Oncology; Member,  WIN Consortium

  • globally 60 precision initiatives but there really are because many in small countries
  • three out of five individuals in India die of cancer
  • precision medicine is a must and a hub and spoke model is needed in these places; Italy does this hub and spoke; spokes you enable the small places and bring them into the network so they know how and have access to precision medicine
  • in low income countries the challenge starts with biopsy: then diagnosis and biomarker is issue; then treatment decision a problem as they may not have access to molecular tumor boards
  • prevention is always a difficult task in LMICs (low income)
  • you have ten times more patients in India than in US (triage can be insurmountable)
  • ICGA Foundation: Indian Cancer Genome Atlas
  • in India mutational frequencies vary with geographical borders like EGFR mutations or KRAS mutations
  • genomic landscape of ovarian cancer in India totally different than in TCGA data
  • even different pathways are altered in ovarian cancer seen in North America than in India
  • MAY mean that biomarker panels need to be adjusted based on countries used in
  • the molecular data has to be curated for the India cases to be submitted to a tumor board
  • twenty diagnostic tests in market like TruCheck for Indian market; uses liquid biopsy
  • they are also tailoring diagnostic and treatment for India getting FDA fast track approvals

2:20-2:40

Co-targeting KIT/PDGRFA and Genomic Integrity in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

Lori Rink, PhD, Associate ProfessorFox Chase Cancer Center

  • GIST are most common nesychymal tumor in GI tract
  • used to be misdiagnosed; was considered a leimyosarcoma
  • very asymptomatic tumors and not good prognosis
  • very refractory to genotoxic therapies
  • RTK KIT/PDGFRA gain of function mutations
  • Gleevec imatinib for unresectable GIST however vast majority of even responders become resistant to therapy and cancer returns
  • there is a mutation map for hotspot mutations and sensitivity for gleevec
  • however resistance emerged to ripretinib; in ATP binding pocket
  • over treatment get a polyclonal resistance
  • performed a kinome analysis; Wee1 looked like a potential target
  • mouse studies (80 day) showed good efficacy
  • avapiritinib ahs some neurotox and used in PDGFRA mut GIST model which is resistant to imitinib
  • but if use Wee1 inhibitor with TKI can lower dose of avapiritinib
  • cotargeting KIT/PDGFRA and WEE1 increases replicative stress
  • they are using PDX models to test these combinations
  • combination creates genomic instability

 

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Real Time Conference Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference, Late Morning Session Track 1 October 4 2025

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intellegence will be covering this conference LIVE over X.com at

@pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@AVIVA1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine #WINSYMPO2025

SESSION 3

Advances in Precision Oncology:
From Genomics to Targeted Therapies

11:10-11:55

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Targeting KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer

Razelle Kurzrock, MD
Razelle Kurzrock, MD

11:55-12:15

Charting the Future of Cancer Care: Precision Oncology and the Power of Genomics

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

12:15-12:35

Molecular Pathology as a Driver of Precision in Urological Cancers

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

12:30-12:40

Non – CME – dSTRIDE™-HR: A Functional Biomarker for In Situ, ‘real-time’ Detection and Quantification of Homologous Recombination Activity.

Magda Kordon-Kiszala, PhD

Magda Kordon-Kiszala, PhDCEO and co-founder, intoDNA

12:35-12:55

Epigenetic Plasticity and Tumor Evolution: Mechanisms of Resistance in Precision Oncology

Johnathan R. Whetstine, PhD

Johnathan R. Whetstine, PhDDirector, Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Director, Geonomics Resource, Fox Chase Cancer Center

  • Title: Epigenetic plasticity a gatekeeper to generating extrachromosomal DNA amplification and rearrangements
  • genetic events in cancer are actually controlled not random as he says
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center Epigenetics Institute; 5th year goal to understand epigenetic mechanisms to understand resistance and biomarker development; bring others and break down silos;  they are expanding and hiring and bringing into a network; March 5 2026 5th Annual Symposium Philadelphia Franklin Institute
  • DNA amplification is also chromosomal: integrated same locus or different regions or chromosomal duplication
  • KDM4A epigenetic demethylase controls transiet site specific DNA re-replication; can have focal control of DNA regions
  • you can control regional control of like EGFR amplification
  • can use Cy3 to find local regions
  • KDM3B inhibitor promotes transiet copy gains in KMT2A/MLL
  • EHMT2 is lysine demethylase is a driver of this copy amplification
  • this demethylase can change expression locally in one hour.. very fast
  • demethylases are very specific for their gene locus they control and so this demethylase only controls MLL gene
  • doxorubicin topoisomerase inhibitor can cause LOH in MLL locus and methylase inhibitor can reverse this
  • over twenty combinatorial regulators so this field is just budding

11:30-12:30

Companion Diagnostics in Hereditary and Chronic Diseases – Development, Regulatory Approval, and Commercialization – Non-CME Discussion

Huw Ricketts

Huw Ricketts PhDSenior Director, CLIA Business Development, QIAGEN

Tricia Carrigan

Tricia Carrigan, PhDBC Biosolutions

Arushi Agarwal

Arushi Agarwal, MS,  Partner, Health Advances

Melissa Reuter

Melissa Reuter, MS, MBADirector, Precision Medicine Program Strategy, GSK

  • This is a session panel Discussion on the current state of companion diagnostic development, not just in oncology.  Regulatory aspects will be discussed
  • Arushi: There are alot of opportunities in non-oncology areas for companion diagnostics, and time to development may be an obstacle
  • Huw Rickets:  From a development standpoint most people are not looking at the diagnostic side but more on the therapeutic side.
  • Tricia:  There needs to be a shift in oncology drug development world, and pharma sees developing diagnostic is too expensive.
  • Meliisa: They try to engage early with the agencies to understand the regulatory landscape; GSK is very strong in their oncology platform but there are gaps in diagnostics and non-oncology programs
  • Arushi: seems in Pharma oncology and non-oncology programs seems siloed
  • for non-oncology many of the biomarkers may be rare… well under 25% of population
  • Huw: Qiagen trying to develop diagnostics for Parkinson’s but those rare genetic diseases are easier to develop
  • Arushi: neurodegenerative, NASH, and immuno diseases are big areas where companies are looking to make companion diagnostics
  • Huw: kidney  disease is a big focus to develop companion diagnostics for

 

12:30-12:40

Non – CME – dSTRIDE™-HR: A Functional Biomarker for In Situ, ‘real-time’ Detection and Quantification of Homologous Recombination Activity.

Magda Kordon-Kiszala, PhD

Magda Kordon-Kiszala, PhDCEO and co-founder, intoDNA

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Real Time Conference Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference, Early Morning Session Track 1 October 4 2025

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intellegence will be covering this conference LIVE over X.com at

@pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@AVIVA1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine #WINSYMPO2025

 

8:55 – 10:35

SESSION 1

Precision For All:

Global Access, Real Cases, and Implementation Science

 

8:55-9:15

Results and Future Direction from WIN’s Data Science Paper

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

9:15-9:55

When Precision Gets Personal: WIN Consortium International Molecular Tumor Board Live

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez
Razelle Kurzrock, MD

Razelle Kurzrock, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, WIN Consortium; Professor of Medicine, Associate Director, Clinical Research, Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Endowed Chair of Precision Oncology, MCW Cancer Center and Linda T. & John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine

Notes from Live Tumor Board from Live Tweets

Tumor board Live… Molecular profiling great for identifying synthetic lethal combinations work very well… Many oncologist not accepting recommendations of molec tumor board

Tumor board Live . Oncologists don’t always accept tumor board recommendations based on molecular profiling… Dr Baptiste at first felt constrained to use single agent but WINTER combo trial with molec profiling better

Tumor board Live… Oncologist may give pushback when molecular therapeutic targets identified.. like when methylomics give a result and tumor board suggest temazolamide

Tumor board Live… Oncologist may give pushback when molecular therapeutic targets identified.. like when methylomics give a result and tumor board suggest temazolamide

Tumor board Live… Oncologist may give pushback when molecular therapeutic targets identified.. like when methylomics give a result and tumor board suggest temazolamide

Pemetrexemed not always working but MTAP inhibitions may work

Tumor board Live… Discussion of ovarian cancer case women first presented with CRC BRCA mut but failed PARP inhibitor board is looking at immunotherapy NGS IHC performed

#WINconsortium

Fusions being detected by RNAseq at rate of 100 per month

Tumor board Live…. Theranostics are becoming part of molec tumor board … Radio labeled dual diagnostic therapeutic antibodies

Tumor board Live… Molecular profiling great for identifying synthetic lethal combinations work very well… Many oncologist not accepting recommendations of molec tumor board

SESSION 2

Expanding the Precision Frontier

9:55-10:25

Precision Oncology in the Immunotherapy Era: Biomarkers and Clinical Trial Innovation

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

Lillian Siu, MD, President, AACR 2025-2026; Director, Phase I Clinical Trials Program; Co-Director, Robert and Maggie Bras and Family Drug Development Program Clinical Lead, Tumor Immunotherapy Program; BMO Chair, Precision Cancer Genomics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

  • Princess Margaret CC went to Merck got pembrolizumab from them but built a team platform of clinicians and scientists to work on INSPIRE trial
  • $11 million of grants, 13 major papers, great team science
  • did ctDNA from liquid biopsy and also looked at methylation patterns in cfDNA
  • looked at IFN stimulation and outcome to pembrolizumab
  • retro transposable elements found in INSPIRE program, maybe a predictor of immune sensitivity
  • they were able to correlate some of their findings with spatial omics
  • using spatial data they could look at hot versus cold head and neck cancer
  •  factors for response to immunotherapy: TMB, t cell infiltrate,  PDL1 etc
  • using AI with IHC slides as well as NGS data sets
  • as clinical trials become multiomics and AI with multiomics platforms data sharing will be critical for success

10:25 – 10:35

The Microbiome and Its Role in Cancer Development and Treatment Response

Razelle Kurzrock, MD

Sabine Hazan, MD, CEO, Ventura Clinical Trials; CEO, Progenabiome

  • microbiome research at the infancy so we don’t know much when comes to oncology
  • we need to compare microbiome between persons using NGS and other omics
  • we all have different microbiome even though microbiome ‘healthy’
  • lots of factors affect microbiome including surgery
  • families are similar in their microbiome but when looking at Alzheimers there are differences
  • first lab to find whole COVID in the stools
  • virus was different in different people, difference spike proteins. Virus mutates from lung to stool (gut)
  • in intrafamily patients had different microbiome upon COVID infection
  • bifodobacteria was found as a major part of microbiome altered in COVID but also lots of other diseases
  • lots of examples of host microbial symbiosis
  • they had an instance with throat tumor treated with microbiome and tumor receded without chemo
  • in a glioblastoma microbiome adjustment helped but changed positive response to immunotherapy

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Real Time Conference Coverage: Advancing Precision Medicine Conference,Morning Session Track 1 October 3 2025

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, PhD

Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intellegence will be covering this conference LIVE over X.com at

@pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@AVIVA1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine #WINSYMPO2025

 

Agenda Track 1: WIN Symposium

8:40 – 9:00

Welcome and Introduction

William G Kaelin, Jr, MD

Source: https://winconsortium.org/ 

WIN was formed on the premise that we can accomplish more together than each organization can achieve working alone. We aim to improve cancer patients’ survival and quality of life. View WIN’s history and unique attributes:


Clinical trials, projects and publications

WIN members collaboratively design and carry out global studies designed to achieve breakthroughs for patients worldwide. Our distinguished Scientific Advisory Board oversees WIN studies. Current trials include:

 

 

William G Kaelin, Jr, MD

Nigel RussellFounder and CEOAdvancing Precision Medicine

William G Kaelin, Jr, MD

Christopher P. MolineauxPresident & Chief Executive OfficerLife Science Pennsylvania

Life Sciences Pennsylvania (LSPA) is the statewide trade association for the commonwealth’s life sciences industry. Founded in 1989, LSPA works to ensure Pennsylvania has a business and public policy climate that makes the commonwealth the most attractive location to open and operate a life sciences company. Our membership is comprised of organizations statewide, representing the entire ecosystem of the life sciences: research institutions, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and investment entities, along with service providers who support the industry. Together, we unify Pennsylvania’s innovators to make the Commonwealth a global life sciences leader.

As president & CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania, Christopher Molineaux serves as the chief advocate and spokesman for the life sciences industry that calls Pennsylvania home. Molineaux oversees the strategic direction for the association, assuring Life Sciences Pennsylvania continues to be the catalyst that makes Pennsylvania the top location for life sciences companies.

Molineaux brings to Life Sciences Pennsylvania more than 25 years of experience in the bio-pharmaceutical and health care industries, with front-line experience in developing and executing strategies to navigate a shifting economic and political environment.

9:00-9:40

Keynote Lecture – WIN Consortium

Targeting the Achilles’ Heel of Cancer: Synthetic Lethality and Hypoxia in Precision Oncology

William Kaelin was born in New York City. He studied chemistry and mathematics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and received his doctor of medicine degree there in 1982. He then did his residency at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2002 he became a professor at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Work

 

Animals need oxygen for the conversion of food into useful energy. The importance of oxygen has been understood for centuries, but how cells adapt to changes in levels of oxygen has long been unknown. William Kaelin, Peter Ratcliffe, and Gregg Semenza discovered how cells can sense and adapt to changing oxygen availability. During the 1990s they identified a molecular machinery that regulates the activity of genes in response to varying levels of oxygen. The discoveries may lead to new treatments of anemia, cancer and many other diseases.

To cite this section
MLA style: William G. Kaelin Jr – Facts – 2019. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2025. Fri. 3 Oct 2025. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2019/kaelin/facts/>

From his Nobel award ceremony:

Gregg Semenza and Sir Peter Ratcliffe decided, independently, to find out how the erythropoietin gene can have such an extraordinary ability to react when oxygen levels drop. Semenza discovered an essential DNA element. Ratcliffe was on the same track and they showed that the element is active in all cells. Oxygen sensing thus takes place everywhere in our bodies. Semenza then discovered the critical player that acti- vates our defense genes. It was named HIF. HIF was subjected to an advanced form of control. It is continuously produced, but when oxygen is ample, it disappears. Only when oxygen levels drop, HIF will remain and can mobilise our defense.

William Kaelin studied a different problem, von Hippel- Lindau disease, with inherited increased risk of certain types of cancer. Cancer cells without the gene, VHL, had activated genes normally controlled by HIF. Sir Peter Ratcliffe proved, in a crucial experiment, that VHL is required for HIF to be removed.

But what was the signal to VHL that HIF needs to disappear?
In the early 2000s, Kaelin and Ratcliffe both solved this mystery. The signal was formed by attaching oxygen atoms onto HIF.
Without oxygen, no signal to VHL, HIF is left intact and can activate our defense.

Piece by piece of the puzzle, the Laureates explained a sensitive machinery that compensates when the vital oxygen is not available in exactly the right amount.

Today we know that the machinery affects a vast range of functions.
When oxygen is lacking, oxygen transport is enhanced by generation of new blood vessels and red blood cells. Our cells are also instructed to economize with the oxygen available, by reprogramming their energy metabolism. Oxygen sensing is also involved in many diseases. As a result of the Laureates’ discoveries, intense activities are under way to develop treatments against for example anemia and cancer.

Professors Semenza, Ratcliffe and Kaelin,
Your groundbreaking discoveries have shed light on a beautiful mechanism explaining our ability to sense and react to fluctuating oxygen levels. The system you have clarified is of fundamental importance for all aspects of physiology and for many human diseases. Without it, animal life would not be possible on this planet.

On behalf of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, it is my great privilege to convey to you our warmest congratulations. I now ask you to step forward to receive the Nobel Prize from the hands of His Majesty the King.

TRACK 1  204BC

 

WIN SYMPOSIUM

MULTI-OMICS

9:40 – 10:40

SESSION 1

From Base Pairs To Better Care:

AI and Omics in Precision Oncology

9:40-10:00

Multi-Omic Profiling and Clinical Decision Support in Precision Oncology

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

David Spetzler, PhD, MBA, MS,  President, Caris Life Sciences

10:00-10:20

Integrating Omics and AI for Next-Gen Precision Oncology

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research, Massachusetts General Cancer CenterProfessor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School;
President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 

10:20-10:40

Real-World Data and AI in Precision Oncology: Making Data Work for Patients – Q&A

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

MODERATOR: Jeff Elton, PhD, Vice Chairman, Founding CEO
ConcertAI

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

PANELISTS: David Spetzler, PhD, MBA, MS, President, Caris Life Sciences

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research, Massachusetts General Cancer CenterProfessor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School;
President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 

0:40 – 11:10

Break and Exhibits

TRACK 1  204BC

TRACK 2  204A

WIN SYMPOSIUM

MULTI-OMICS

11:10 – 1:10

SESSION 2

The Evolution of Precision Oncology:

Integrating MRD, AI, and Beyond

11:10-12:00

Precision Cancer Consortium

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez
Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Shruti Mathur, MSPharma Diagnostic Strategy Leader, Global Product Strategy (GPS), Genentech

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Daryl Pritchard, PhD, Interim President, Personalized Medicine Coalition

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Keith T. Flaherty, MD, FAACR, Director of Clinical Research, Massachusetts General Cancer CenterProfessor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School;
President-Elect: 2025-2026, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 

SESSION 3

The Shifting Landscape:

Tumor Plasticity and Resistance

12:00-12:20

Mathematical and Evolutionary Modeling in Precision Radiation Oncology

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Jacob Scott, MD, DPhil, Professor and Staff Physician-Scientist, CWRU School of Medicine and Cleveland Clinic

12:20-12:40

Plasticity and Persistence: The Role of EMT in Cancer Progression and Therapy Resistance

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Sendurai A. Mani, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University; Associate Director of Translational Oncology, Brown University Legorreta Cancer Center

12:40-1:00

Targeting Molecularly Defined Subsets: Challenges in Translational Oncology

Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez

Benedito A. Carneiro, MD, MS, Director, Clinical Research
Director, Cancer Drug Development; Associate Director, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University Health

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Conference Coverage 2025 Advancing Precision Medicine Conference, Philadelphia PA October 3-4 2025

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, PhD

The Annual Advanced Precision Medicine Conference will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center October 3-4 2025 in Philadelphia PA.   Advancing Precision Medicine is an organization dedicated to provide education and discourse among medical professionals to advance the field of precision therapeutics and diagnostics in cancer, cardiovascular, and other diseases.  The Annual symposium is held in Philadelphia.

The event will consist of two parallel tracks composed of keynote addresses, panel discussions and fireside chats which will encourage audience participation. Over the course of the two-day event leaders from industry, healthcare, regulatory bodies, academia and other pertinent stakeholders will share an intriguing and broad scope of content.

This event will consist of three immersive tracks, each crafted to explore the multifaceted dimensions of precision medicine. Delve into Precision Oncology, where groundbreaking advancements are reshaping the landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Traverse the boundaries of Precision Medicine Outside of Oncology, as we probe into the intricate interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and environment across a spectrum of diseases and conditions including rare disease, cardiology, ophthalmology, and neurodegenerative disease. Immerse yourself in AI for Precision Medicine, where cutting-edge technologies are revolutionizing diagnostics, therapeutics, and patient care. Additionally, explore the emerging frontiers of Spatial Biology and Mult-Omics, where integrated approaches are unraveling the complexities of biological systems with unprecedented depth and precision.

https://www.advancingprecisionmedicine.com/ 

Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intellegence will be covering this conference LIVE over X.com at

@pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@AVIVA1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine #WINSYMPO2025

APM is a mission-driven team dedicated to advancing clinical practice through education in precision medicine, oncology, and pathology. Our expert-led programs bring together clinicians, pathologists, pharmacists, nurses, and researchers from across the country.

What We Offer

In 2025, we’re proud to offer three specialized event series—each tailored to a different corner of the healthcare ecosystem:

Register here for the 2025 Conference: https://www.advancingprecisionmedicine.com/apm-home/apm-annual-conference-and-exhibition-in-philadelphia/ 

Where discovery meets application – and science transforms lives.

What’s New in 2025?

Four Specialized Tracks:

Track 1 – 2025 WIN Symposium: Progress and Challenges in Precision Oncology
Presented in partnership with Advancing Precision Medicine

As the official 2025 WIN Symposium, this dedicated track will explore the evolving landscape of precision oncology, highlighting both groundbreaking advances and the ongoing challenges of translating molecular insights into clinical impact. Curated by the WIN Consortium, the program will feature global leaders in cancer research, diagnostics, and therapeutic innovation—offering a comprehensive view of how precision medicine is reshaping oncology across tumor types and care settings.

Track 2 – Day 1 – Multi-Omics Integration, Day 2 – Precision Medicine Outside of Oncology

From genomics and transcriptomics to proteomics and metabolomics—this track highlights how multi-layered data is revolutionizing systems biology and clinical decision-making.

Diving into applications across cardiovascular, neurology, rare disease, infectious disease, and other therapeutic areas where precision tools are reshaping clinical practice.

 

Why Attend?

  • Cutting-Edge Innovation: Explore AI-powered solutions, multi-omics workflows, clinical trial design, and real-world implementation.
  • Renowned Speakers: Hear from global thought leaders in translational research, biotech innovation, and personalized therapeutics.
  • Dynamic Format: Keynotes, fireside chats, panels, and audience-interactive discussions across four concurrent tracks.
  • Unmatched Networking: Collaborate with scientists, startups, executives, regulators, and investors shaping tomorrow’s care.
  • Philadelphia Advantage: Centrally located near premier academic institutions, hospitals, incubators, and venture capital networks.

Who Should Attend?

Researchers, clinicians, data scientists, regulatory experts, startup founders, investors, tech transfer professionals, and healthcare leaders.

Let’s advance a future that is more predictive, preventive, and precise—together.

Keynote Speaker

  • William Kaelin, Jr, MD

    2019 Nobel Laureate
    Sidney Farber Professor, Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

2019 Nobel Laureate

Sidney Farber Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 

Senior Physician-Scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator

William Kaelin is the Sidney Farber Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Senior Physician-Scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. He obtained his undergraduate and M.D. degrees from Duke University and completed his training in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as chief medical resident. He was a clinical fellow in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and later a postdoctoral fellow in David Livingston’s laboratory, during which time he was a McDonnell Scholar.

A Nobel Laureate, Dr. Kaelin received the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the American College of Physicians. He previously served on the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors, the AACR Board of Trustees, and the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Board. He is a recipient of the Paul Marks Prize for cancer research from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Prize from the AACR; the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist award; the 2010 Canada International Gairdner Award; ASCI’s Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award; the Scientific Grand Prix of the Foundation Lefoulon-Delalande; the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences; the Steven C. Beering Award; the AACR Princess Takamatsu Award; the ASCO Science of Oncology Award; the Helis Award; the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Prize; the Massry Prize; the Harriet P. Dustan Award for Science as Related to Medicine from the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Kaelin’s research seeks to understand how, mechanistically, mutations affecting tumor-suppressor genes cause cancer. His laboratory is currently focused on studies of the VHL, RB-1, and p53 tumor suppressor genes. His long-term goal is to lay the foundation for new anticancer therapies based on the biochemical functions of such proteins. His work on the VHL protein helped to motivate the eventual successful clinical testing of VEGF inhibitors for the treatment of kidney cancer. Moreover, this line of investigation led to new insights into how cells sense and respond to changes in oxygen, and thus has implications for diseases beyond cancer, such as anemia, myocardial infarction, and stroke. His group also showed that leukemic transformation by mutant IDH was reversible, setting the stage for the development and approval of mutant IDH inhibitors, and discovered how thalidomide-like drugs kill myeloma cells by degrading two otherwise undruggable transcription factors,

2025 Steering Committee

Presentations

A diverse group of more than 90 key opinion leaders will convene to explore the critical forces shaping the future of healthcare. Representing a range of disciplines—including genomics, bioinformatics, clinical research, biopharma, technology, and investment—these experts will lead discussions on the latest advancements and challenges in precision medicine.

Topics will include the evolution of genomic sequencing technologies, ethical considerations in managing patient data, the integration of AI in diagnostics, and strategies for translating innovation into clinical practice. The inclusion of investors and strategic partners will also bring a vital perspective on funding models, commercialization pathways, and the acceleration of cutting-edge therapies. Together, these voices will offer a comprehensive view of the trends transforming personalized healthcare on a global scale.

Networking Opportunities

Our precision medicine event, hosting over 500 attendees, offers invaluable networking opportunities. Bringing together professionals, researchers, and industry leaders, the event facilitates engaging discussions, knowledge-sharing, and potential partnerships, driving advancements in precision medicine.

Why Exhibit

Exhibiting at the event provides a unique opportunity to showcase your cutting-edge solutions and connect with key stakeholders in the rapidly advancing field of personalized healthcare. As an exhibitor, you’ll gain visibility among industry leaders, researchers, and professionals, allowing you to forge strategic partnerships, highlight your contributions to precision medicine, and stay at the forefront of innovations shaping the future of healthcare. Don’t miss the chance to position your company as a leader in this dynamic and transformative space, driving meaningful collaborations and contributing to the advancement of precision medicine.

THE LOCATION

APM Annual Conference 2025

Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Philadelphia

Registration Fees

Student – free
Academic/Government/Non-Profit  – free
Healthcare Providers – free 
Investors – free
Vendor/Technology Provider $999

Other Live Conference Proceedings can be found on this Online Open Access Journal at:

Press Coverage

including a list of previous conference at:

Part Two: List of BioTech Conferences 2013 to Present

including Live Coverage of the 2024 Advancing Precision Medicine conference at:

Real Time Coverage Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 1,2 2024

 

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Sleeping Threats: Immune System’s Watch on Dormant Cancer

Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph. D.

 

The immune system’s role in regulating dormant cancer cells has been increasingly elucidated, revealing a complex interplay that influences metastasis and cancer recurrence. Dormant cells, which enter a non-proliferative state, can evade immune detection and remain quiescent for prolonged periods.


Mechanisms of immune evasion include down-regulation of antigen presentation and residence within immune-privileged niches such as bone marrow. Both innate and adaptive immunity, particularly CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells, are involved in maintaining dormancy and preventing metastatic outgrowth.


Micro-environmental factors that modulate immune surveillance and dormancy status have been identified. Changes in cytokine profiles and inflammation can disrupt dormancy, leading to cancer cell reactivation and metastasis.


Therapeutic approaches to sustain dormancy or eliminate dormant cells are under development. These include immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and cytokine modulators aimed at enhancing immune recognition and clearance.


By targeting dormant cancer cells through immune modulation, it is anticipated that metastasis can be delayed or prevented, significantly improving long-term patient outcomes and reducing cancer mortality.

References:

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/metastasis-dormant-cancer-cells-immune-system

https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc2256

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33681821/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33811127/

https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc3910

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27015306

 

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Resitu Medical Sets Stage for Breakthrough in Breast Tumour Removal

Curator: Dr. Sudipta Saha, Ph.D.

Resitu Medical, a Swedish company specializing in minimally invasive breast tumour removal, has announced the appointment of Stefan Sowa as its new Chief Executive Officer. Strategic leadership is being strengthened as the company moves towards commercialization in both European and American markets.

A novel electrosurgical device, designed to excise entire breast lesions during the biopsy procedure, is being developed by Resitu. The device is intended to minimize the need for open surgery by allowing intact removal of tissue with minimal bleeding, guided by real-time ultrasound imaging. Preclinical studies are currently being conducted, and preparations for FDA clearance and CE marking are underway.

ISO 13485 certification for the design, development, manufacturing, and sales of the device has been successfully obtained. Investment has been secured from major shareholders, including Novoaim, ALMI Invest Stockholm, and STOAF, to support the finalization of the product and the initiation of serial production for clinical trials.

Through the use of its technology, false negatives are hoped to be reduced, while patient outcomes and diagnostic accuracy are expected to be significantly improved. The burden on healthcare systems may also be alleviated by minimizing the need for recalls and secondary biopsies.

Positive attention has been garnered at major medical conferences, with workshops hosted at events such as the Uppsala Breast Meeting, and favourable media coverage has been achieved. With Stefan Sowa at the helm, Resitu’s innovative device is poised to transform breast cancer management practices globally.

References

https://news.cision.com/let-em-know-ab/r/resitu-strengthens-c-suite-with-new-ceo-as-it-prepares-for-commercialization-of-its-breast-tumor-rem,c4140424

https://www.resitu.com

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer

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Real Time Coverage Morning Session on Precision Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 2 2024

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.

9:20-9:50

How Can We Close the Clinical Practice Gaps in Precision Medicine?

Susanne Munksted, Diaceutics

Studies are showing that genetic tests are being ordered at a sufficient rate however it appears there are problems in interpretation and developing treatment plans based on omics testing results

 

  • 30 % of patients in past and now currently half of all patients are not being given the proper treatment based on genomic testing results (ASCO)
  • E.g. only 1.5% with NTRK fusions received a NTRK based therapy (this was > 4000 patients receiving wrong therapy)
  • A lung oncologist may only see one patient with NTRK fusion in three years

 

Precision Medicine Practice Gaps

48% of oncologist surveyed  agreed pathologist needs to be more informed and relevant in the decision making process with regard to tests needing to be ordered

95% said need to flip cost issues ; what does it cost not to get a test … i.e. what is the cost of the wrong therapy

We need a new commercialization model for therapeutic development for this new era of “n of one” patient

9:50-10:15

Implementation of a CLIA-based Reverse Phase Protein Array Assay for Precision Oncology Applications: Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics at the Bedside (CME Eligible)

Emanuel Petricoin, George Mason University

There are some tumor markers approved by FDA that cant just be measured by NGS and are correlated with a pathologic complete response

 

  • Many point mutations will have no actionable drug
  • Many alterations are post-genomic meaning there is a post translational component to many prognostic biomarkers
  • Prevalence of point mutation with no actionable mutation is a limit of NGS
  • It is important to look at phospho protein spectrum as a potential biomarker

 

Reverse phase protein proteomic analysis

  • Made into CLIA based array
  • They trained centers around the US on the technology and analysis
  • Basing proteomics or protein markers by traditional IHC requires much antibody validation so if the mass spectrometry field can catch up it would be very powerful
  • With multiple MRM.MS there is too low abundance of phosphoproteins to allow for good detection

 

They  conducted the I-SPY2 trial for breast cancer and determining if phosphoproteins could be a good biomarker panel

  • They found they could predict a HER2 response better than NGS
  • There were patients who were predicted HER2 negative that actually had an activated HER2 signaling pathway by proteomics so NGS must have had a series of false negatives
  • HER2 co phosphorylation predicts pathologic complete response and predicts therapy by herceptin
  • They found patients classified as HER2 negative by FISH were HER2 positive by proteomics and had HER2 activation

10:15-11:10

Liquid Biopsy MRD to Escalate or De-escalate Therapy (CME Eligible)

Adrian Lee

Adrian Lee, UPMC

Marija Balic, UPMC

Howard McLeod

Howard McLeod, Utah Tech University

Muhammed, Murtaza, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

11:15-11:25  PRODUCT PRESENTATION  204A

SpaceIQ™ – Powering Next Generation Precision Therapeutics with AI-Driven Spatial Biomarkers

Dusty Majumdar, PredxBio 

Single Cell and Spatial Omics

 

  • Single cell transcriptomics technology have been scaled up very nicely over the past ten years
  • Spatial informatics field is lacking in innovations
  • Can get a terabyte worth of data from analysis of one slide

11:25-11:35  PRODUCT PRESENTATION  204C

10x Genomics

11:40-12:35

Transcriptomics and AI in Transforming Precision Diagnosis

Maher Albitar, Genomic Testing Cooperative

Transciptomica and AI:Transforming Precision diagnosis

-The Genomics Testing Coopererative at www.genomictestingcooperative.com

 

Advantages of transcriptomics

– mutation frequency and allele variant detection now at 80% (higher sensitivity in mutation detection)

 

– transcriptomics has good detection of chromosomal translocations

– great surrogate for IHC and detect splicing alterations

– can use AI to predict % of PDL1 in tumor cells versus immune cells

– they have developed a software UMAP (uniform manifold approximation and projection) to supervise cluster analysis

– the group has used AI to predict prognosis and survival using transcriptomics data

Marija Balic, UPMC

Andrew Pecora, Hackensack University Medical Center 

12:35-1:00

The Impact of Multi-Omics in the Context of the APOLLO-2 Moonshot Program (CME Eligible)

 

 

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Coverage Afternoon Session on Precision Oncology: Advancing Precision Medicine Annual Conference, Philadelphia PA November 1 2024

Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.

Unlocking the Next Quantum Leap in Precision Medicine – A Town Hall Discussion (CME Eligible)

Co-Chairs

Amanda Paulovich, Professor, Aven Foundation Endowed Chair
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Susan Monarezm Deputy Director ARPA-H

Henry Rodriguez, NCI/NIH

Eric Schadt, Pathos

Ezra Cohen, Tempus

Jennifer Leib, Innovation Policy Solutions

Nick Seddon, Optum Genomics

Giselle Sholler, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital

Janet Woodcock, formerly FDA

Amanda Paulovich: Frustrated by the variability in cancer therapy results.  Decided to help improve cancer diagnostics

  •  We have plateaued on relying on single gene single protein companion diagnostics
  • She considers that regulatory, economic, and cultural factors are hindering the innovation and resulting in the science way ahead of the clinical aspect of diagnostics
  • Diagnostic research is not as well funded as drug discovery
  • Biomarkers, the foundation for the new personalized medicine, should be at forefront Read the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
  • FDA is constrained by statutory mandates 

 

Eric Schadt

Pathos

 

  • Multiple companies trying to chase different components of precision medicine strategy including all the one involved in AI
  • He is helping companies creating those mindmaps, knowledge graphs, and create more predictive systems
  • Population screening into population groups will be using high dimensional genomic data to determine risk in various population groups however 60% of genomic data has no reported ancestry
  • He founded Sema4 but many of these companies are losing $$ on these genomic diagnostics
  • So the market is not monetizing properly
  • Barriers to progress: arbitrary evidence thresholds for payers, big variation across health care system, regulatory framework

 

Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium Giselle

 

  • Consortium of university doctors in pediatrics
  • They had a molecular tumor board to look at the omics data
  • Showed example of choroid plexus tumor success with multi precision meds vs std chemo
  • Challenges: understanding differences in genomics test (WES, NGS, transcriptome etc.
  • Precision medicine needs to be incorporated in med education.. Fellowships.. Residency
  • She spends hours with the insurance companies providing more and more evidence to justify reimbursements
  • She says getting that evidence is a challenged;  biomedical information needs to be better CURATED

 

Dr. Ezra Cohen, Tempest

 

  • HPV head and neck cancer, good prognosis, can use cituximab and radiation
  • $2 billion investment at Templest of AI driven algorithm to integrate all omics; used LLM models too

Dr. Janet Woodcock

 

  • Our theoretical problem with precision and personalized medicine is that we are trained to think of the average patient
  • ISPAT II trial a baysian trial; COVID was a platform trial
  • She said there should there be NIH sponsored trials on adaptive biomarker platform trials

This event will be covered by the LPBI Group on Twitter.  Follow on

@Pharma_BI

@StephenJWillia2

@Aviva1950

@AdvancingPM

using the following meeting hashtags

#AdvancingPM #precisionmedicine

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