Cancer Fragmentation, Multi-Cancer Detection & Liquid Biopsy Innovation with Victor Velculescu & Nicola Aceto at PMWC 2025!

Liquid biopsy, which analyzes tumor-derived cells or biomolecules (like ctDNA and extracellular vesicles) in body fluids, is revolutionizing oncology. This non-invasive technology enables us to study tumor biology, monitor treatment response, and detect early relapse. It’s transforming cancer staging, identifying therapeutic targets, and helping to understand resistance mechanisms. The integration of liquid biopsy into clinical practice is becoming more viable, with interventional studies validating its clinical impact.

Dr. Victor Velculescu’s work with DELFI technology exemplifies these advancements. Using AI to analyze genome-wide cell-free DNA fragmentation, DELFI offers a breakthrough in early cancer detection. “This new machine-learning fragmentome approach provides a sensitive and accessible next-generation liquid biopsy method,” he explains, highlighting the importance of collaboration to bring these technologies into real-world clinical settings and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Nicola Aceto’s groundbreaking research has uncovered new insights into cancer metastasis through circulating tumor cells (CTCs). He describes CTC clusters as “highly potent metastatic units with enhanced proliferative abilities and stem-like features.” His work on circadian rhythms in breast cancer reveals that “CTC production peaks during sleep, driven by hormonal changes like melatonin,” increasing the risk of metastasis at night. These findings suggest potential for chronotherapy—timing treatments to match the body’s rhythms for better efficacy—and open new avenues for personalized treatment.

Join us for these highlighted sessions in the Liquid Biopsy Track 4 Feb 6th Program:
• Keynotes:
       o Early Detection of Cancer Using Cell-free DNA Fragmentomes
              Victor Velculescu (Johns Hopkins) discusses DELFI technology, a groundbreaking approach to early cancer detection.
       o Circulating Tumor Cells and Circadian Rhythms in Metastasis
              Nicola Aceto (ETH Zurich) has uncovered that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are potent drivers of metastasis. His research shows that CTC release peaks during sleep due to circadian rhythms, revealing new timing strategies for cancer treatment.
• Panels:
       o Innovative Approaches in Liquid Biopsy
              Chaired by Victor Velculescu, with insights from Adam Widman (MSKCC) on diagnostic precision through AI and next-gen sequencing.
       o Circulating Tumor Cells: The New Frontier
              Chaired by Nicola Aceto, featuring Min Yu (University of Maryland) and Matteo Ligorio (UTSW) on therapeutic strategies for CTCs.
       o Improving Sensitivity of MRD and MCED
              Chaired by Adrian Lee, discussing tumor-agnostic vs. tumor-informed ctDNA approaches with Ola Carl Landgren (University of Miami) and Marija Balic (UPMC).
       o Sequencing Accuracy in Early Detection and MRD
              Featuring Alex Sockell (PacBio), James Hadfield (AstraZeneca), and Cristian Tomasetti (City of Hope) on innovations in sequencing for cancer detection.
       o Innovations Across the Cancer Continuum
              Chaired by Tom Beer (Exact Sciences), joined by Elizabeth O’Donnell (Dana-Farber) and Arnaud Papin (Merck) on continuous cancer monitoring.
       o Multi-Cancer Early Detection: Innovations and Real-World Evidence
              Chaired by Peter Bach (DELFI Dx), with insights from Joshua Cohen (Haystack), Lauren Leiman (BLOODPAC), and Josh Ofman (Grail Bio).
       o Showcase: Wendy Winckler (Droplet Biosciences), Varsha Rao (Claret Bio), Matthew Pink (Biodesix), Carl Barrett (Precede Bio), Marra Francis (Genece Health)

This PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – Feb 5-7 track provides an in-depth look at the latest in liquid biopsy research, covering breakthroughs and challenges like assay standardization and harmonized clinical protocols. Don’t miss the chance to connect with the leaders who are defining the future of cancer care.

Register now to secure your place at PMWC 2025 and catch the rate deadline!

Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025

NIH’s $110M Women’s Health Investment – Join PMWC 2025’s Women’s Health Track

Have you heard about the Historic $110M NIH Investment in Women’s Health?
Following the NIH’s announcement of this ARPA-H funding, the PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley (Feb 5-7 Program) Women’s Health Track is primed to spotlight innovations that align with this transformative support. 

Join us on February 6th at the Santa Clara Convention Center for discussions on breakthroughs from maternal health to Alzheimer’s:

Honoring Dr. Diana Bianchi
We are thrilled to honor Dr. Diana Bianchi with the PMWC Luminary Award for her pioneering advancements in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), supported by NIH research insights. Her work has expanded NIPT’s reach, identifying both fetal conditions and maternal genomic insights linked to oncology and autoimmune disorders.

Honoring Dr. Nanette K. Wenger
PMWC 2025 proudly names Dr. Nanette K. Wenger as the Pioneer Honoree for her decades-long dedication to advancing women’s cardiovascular health. Her transformative research has redefined medical understanding and protocols, inspiring further study into sex-based differences.

Endometriosis, Fertility, and Endocrinological Problems
Building on transformative healthcare, Dr. Linda Giudice (UCSF) will present her NIH-funded research on repurposed drugs that show promise in reducing endometriosis-associated pain. This session will highlight endometriosis’ impact on fertility. Dr. Paolo Rinaudo (UCSF) will explore data-driven methods for enhancing fertility research and treatments, while Dr. Vittorio Sebastiano (Stanford) will delve into the role of stem cells in fertility and aging. Dr. Ruth Bunker Lathi (Stanford) will provide insights into differentiating maternal and fetal causes of miscarriage to improve outcomes. Lastly, Dr. Aleksandar Rajkovic (UCSF) will discuss genetic insights into uterine fibroids and their effect on fertility.

Cardiovascular Health and Alzheimer’s Disease in Women
We are also proud to announce Dr. Nanette K. Wenger as our Pioneer Honoree. Her contributions to cardiology have transformed the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women, reshaping medical guidelines and advancing women’s cardiovascular care. This session, chaired by Dr. Noel Bairey Merz (Cedars-Sinai), will feature a panel of leading experts: Dr. Janet Wright (CDC), Dr. Christine Albert (Cedars-Sinai), Dr. Judy Regensteiner (University of Colorado), Dr. Garima Sharma (Inova Health System), and Dr. Roxana Mehran (Mount Sinai), who will share the latest research findings. Additionally, the session on Innovations in Alzheimer’s and Women’s Health will focus on neurological conditions affecting women, featuring Dr. Aparna Vasanthakumar (AbbVie) and Dr. Duygu Tosun-Turgut (UCSF).

Pregnancy and Multi-Omics Advances
The session titled “Harnessing Pre-Pregnancy Data to Predict Pregnancy Health” will showcase Dr. Priya Pantham (UCSD) and her work on RNA-based biomarker discovery for gestational diseases. Dr. Mike Snyder (Stanford) will present on the role of biological clocks in pregnancy using multi-omics analysis, and Dr. Alison Paquette (Seattle Children’s Research Institute) will discuss the multi-omics analysis of the placenta and its implications for pregnancy health. The Q&A session will be moderated by Dr. Yoel Sadovsky (University of Pittsburgh).

Join Us in Transforming Women’s Health: Be part of this dynamic track, designed for healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders. Engage with the foremost minds in women’s health as we accelerate innovations inspired by this unprecedented funding boost.

Register for PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley Feb 5-7 to join the Women’s Health and 11 other tracks. 
Save 50% by Thursday

Best regards,
Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025

The Dawn of Digital Biology: Jensen Huang’s (NVIDIA) Vision for AI in Healthcare at PMWC25

In a world where technology and healthcare converge, the visionary leadership of Jensen Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA is pioneering a revolution that could redefine our approach to medicine and biology. He has articulated a vision that is not just transformative but revolutionary: “Digital biology will be one of the biggest revolutions ever. For the very first time in human history, biology has the opportunity to be engineering, not science.” This bold assertion underscores the seismic shift that NVIDIA is driving in the healthcare industry through the application of artificial intelligence (AI).

We are thrilled to announce that Jensen Huang will be the Luminary honoree at the PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley track on AI and Data Science in Research and Development in Track 2 on February 7th (View the full February 5-7 Silicon Valley Program).

AI technologies like the BioNeMo foundation models, are decoding complex biological data, such as DNA sequences and protein interactions, which are crucial for advancing drug discovery and precision medicine. These technological innovations, including the H100 chips and specialized software, are empowering pharmaceutical companies to harness AI for drug discovery, significantly accelerating the pace of development and enhancing the accuracy of outcomes. This is not just about incremental improvements; it’s about redefining the entire drug development process. However, there remains skepticism about the oversimplification of complex biological processes and the potential risks of heavy reliance on AI, which are challenges that the industry continues to address. Yet, these concerns do not overshadow the substantial benefits and enhancements that AI technology brings to the table.

The role of AI in healthcare is not just about providing tools but about creating an ecosystem where biotechnology can thrive through AI integration. NVIDIA’s strategic partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk, Amgen, and Genentech, its investments in AI-driven biotech startups, underscore its commitment to nurturing a tech-forward healthcare environment. A prime example is the collaboration between NVIDIA and Genentech, which aims to shorten the time-consuming process of drug discovery but also to increase the success rate of R&D efforts. Using AI to put “lab-in-a-loop”, Genentech and NVIDIA are creating a dynamic system where experimental data continuously improves computational models, leading to faster and more effective drug development cycles.

As we look forward to the advancements this collaboration will bring, it is clear that Jensen Huang’s vision is not just participating in the healthcare industry but actively driving its evolution. Join us at the PMWC Award Ceremony to hear more from Jensen Huang, our Luminary Honoree, about how AI is setting new standards in healthcare and opening up new frontiers in the digital biology revolution.

In addition, Matthias Troyer of Microsoft will highlight the integration of AI with quantum computing, discussing its potential to revolutionize fields like chemistry and biochemistry through hybrid classical-quantum supercomputing systems. Other sessions led by experts such as Ken Drazan from ArsenalBio, Gaddy Getz from the Broad Institute, Yasin Şenbabaoğlu from Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco, Peter Goodhand from GA4GH, Chris Lunt from AllOfUs/NIH, Karen Miga from UCSC, Philip Awadalla from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Janusz Dutkowski from Data4Cure, and Paul Rejto from Pfizer, promises to provide deep insights into the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of healthcare and biotechnology. With sessions ranging from precision medicine to quantum computing and panels discussing genomics, global health data sharing, and AI-driven drug development, attendees will gain a holistic understanding of how AI is revolutionizing the field.

Register before the rate goes up! 

Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025