Session Abstract – PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley
The PMWC 2025 Clinical & Research Tools Showcase will provide a 15-30 minute time slot for selected companies in this space. The Clinical & Research Tools is a showcase for innovative technologies that are used for the analysis of genetic variation and function, helping to advance breakthroughs in genetic health, rare disease conditions on individuals of all ages, complex diseases and cancer care. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and microarray technologies empower rapidly evolving genomic revolution.
Confirmed Presenting Companies:
Speaker Profile
Biography
Janel has been a board-certified genetic counselor for close to 10 years with a career spanning direct patient care in adult cardiology and neurology, clinical research, utilization management, and product development. She now leads design and implementation of solutions for Clinical Management and Precision Health. She has led the development of products that have increased access to genetic services for millions of lives through national health plans in both population health and pharmacogenomics.
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Implementing Precision Healthcare through Patient Empowerment
DNAimpact is a novel precision health platform developed by genomics experts with dynamic assessments, genomics education, patient engagement, and clinical support. InformedDNA demonstrates how a patient-first, digitally-led approach to precision healthcare drives short-term actions, enabling both short- and long-term gains through a Pharmacogenomics pilot meeting Payer, Provider, and Patient needs.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
InformedDNA
InformedDNA supports Payors, Health Systems and Life Sciences through the application of genomic insights in Cost Management, Clinical Management and Precision Health. Tech-enabled solutions include Prior Authorization, Payment Integrity, Telehealth Genetic Counseling, Clinical Trial Recruitment and Population Health Genomics.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Sivan is a recognized innovator and entrepreneur in artificial intelligence who has dedicated two decades to pioneering the development of complex computational and data platforms. His key contributions include the development of novel machine-learning models tackling significant challenges in human disease. At Karius, he spearheaded the development of the foundational computational platform underlying the Karius Test, elevated the biomarker discovery program, and was central to forming and nurturing key strategic partnerships, furthering the companys impact in the medical field. Prior to Karius, Sivan was a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Lifecode, where he led the development of the analytical platform and validation of several clinical assays across oncology and rare diseases. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, and continued to Stanfords Artificial Intelligence Lab to pursue his post-doctoral research.
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Microbial Cell-Free DNA Unlocks Novel Biomarkers
Microbial cell-free DNA, discovered over a decade ago, now powers AI-driven liquid biopsy diagnostics for infectious diseases. The Karius Test, built on this platform, has supported 80,000+ cases across more than 500 hospitals. Its reach extends to autoimmune disease and cancer, showcasing the technologys versatility for novel liquid biopsy applications.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Karius
Karius, a biotech innovator, has been pioneering microbial cell-free DNA and AI-driven analysis for liquid biopsy diagnostics for infectious diseases for over a decade. The plasma-based Karius Test enables minimally invasive, rapid detection of pathogens and other disease biomarkers.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Jake Collins is an accomplished, results-driven applications engineer with ample experience in the engineering space. As the Senior Application Engineer at Boston Micro Fabrication, Jake excels in discovering new applications for the company's technology. With expertise spanning technical sales, product development, and innovative solutions, he is dedicated to delivering tailored approaches that meet the unique needs of each customer.
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Advancing Precision Medicine through Micro 3D Printing
This talk explores how high-precision 3D printing is revolutionizing precision medicine by enabling the creation of highly accurate, customized medical devices and implants. Attendees will learn about advancements in micro-3D printing technology, its impact on patient-specific treatments, and how its driving innovation in diagnostics, drug delivery, and surgical tools.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Boston Micro Fabrication
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) provides precise micro-scale 3D printing for healthcare, life sciences, electronics, and machining. Using proprietary PμSL (Projection Micro Stereolithography) technology, the microArch printers deliver the industry’s most accurate, high-resolution 3D prints for product development, research, and industrial short-run production.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Kendra is leading assay development efforts at Xilis, Inc., working to establish and implement assays using ex vivo patient tumor models generated with the Xilis MicroOrganoSpheres Technology. Kendra has over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience spanning from research and development to manufacturing and from small biotech to large pharma companies. During this time, she has established a broad foundation in the biological and chemical sciences and has made significant contributions to a wide range of assets, technologies, targets, modalities, and therapeutic areas. A particular area of focus for Kendra has been developing and implementing an array of assays and models to provide key biological insights and drive decision making in the drug discovery and development space.
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Accelerating Functional Precision Oncology with MicroOrganoSpheres Technology
MicroOrganoSpheres (MOS) Technology accelerates functional precision oncology for therapeutics and diagnostics by enabling rapid, scalable and robust generation of patient-specific ex vivo tumor models with preserved tumor biology. The Xilis MOS Platform industrializes ex vivo patient tumor models for a variety of drug discovery, development and diagnostics applications.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Xilis
Xilis is an innovation-driven biotech developing its proprietary MicroOrganoSpheres® Technology for functional precision oncology. Xilis is harnessing and industrializing patient tumor models that retain patient-specific tumor biology to enable development of effective therapeutics and to guide them to the right patients at the right time.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Nevenka Dimitrova is a distinguished Biomedical Data Science Technology Executive with a PhD in Computer Science, specializing in digital health, AI, and informatics. Currently designing a new strategy for spatial biology at MSKCC top cancer center, working on new longevity and cancer treatments using AI. As the VP of Biomedical Data at GlaxoSmithKline, she spearheaded transformative digital initiatives in pharma RD, including pioneering cloud and machine learning applications. Formerly the CTO of Oncology Informatics and Genomics at Philips, she led products from concept to market, significantly enhancing clinical outcomes. With over 140 publications and 80 patents, Nevenka is also deeply involved in educational and high-tech initiatives through board roles in Macedonia 2025, AI institutes in Serbia and India, focusing on empowering underserved youth in tech.
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Advancing Multiplex Image Analysis with AI for Cancer Ecosystems
Complex spatial analyses are becoming essential in biomedical research, yet the tools are lagging behind. We are exploring spatial transcriptomics and multiplex imaging to identify markers of senescence during and after chemo, immuno-oncology and radiation therapy. We aim to develop new deep learning methods for dissecting spatial biology data.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
MSKCC
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the world cancer center.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Dr. Carlos Bustamante is one of the worlds foremost thought leaders in population genetics and genomics and brings immense knowledge and relationships key to the companys success. A leading academic in the field of medical and population genomics, his background includes roles as a Venture Partner at F-Prime Capital, SAB member with Digitalis Ventures, Founder of Arc Bio, advisor to numerous startups, and former Professor of Genetics Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University (now adjunct). Dr. Bustamante was also awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2010 for his contributions to population genetics (mining DNA sequence data to address fundamental questions about mechanisms of evolution, origins of human genetic diversity, and patterns of population migration).
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Harnessing Human Diversity to Advance Discovery and Precision Medicine
Ethnic representation bias pervades large-scale genetic datasets, perpetuating disparities in medicine. Galatea Bios global recruitment network targets underserved populations, integrating with biopharma to deliver multimodal data for 10 million patients. By leveraging ancestry-informed analytics and genetic diversity, we aim to eliminate bias, accelerate discoveries, and revolutionize personalized medicine.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Galatea Bio
Galatea Bio is a biotechnology company committed to driving groundbreaking discoveries in healthcare by pairing genetic diversity with cutting-edge data analytics. Our passion is fueled by a focus on populations historically underrepresented in genetics research.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Shaun Wootten is a PhD candidate at Arizona State University specializing in complex in-vitro systems, particularly Organ-on-a-Chip platforms, to advance oncology drug screening within the Nikkhah Lab. His work focuses on developing high-throughput methods to test cancer therapies, aiming to enhance precision medicine while reducing reliance on animal models. Through biomimetic technologies, the potential for ethical and more effective pharmaceutical development is possible.
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Tumor On-a-Chip Technology: Advancing Cancer Discoveries
This presentation highlights the use of Tumor-on-a-Chip technology to model oncology tumor microenvironments, offering a dynamic platform for studying tumor growth, stromal interactions, and drug responses. By mimicking physiological conditions, this system provides deeper insights into cancer biology and serves as a powerful tool for advancing personalized therapies and drug development.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Arizona State University
The Nikkhah Lab at ASU integrates biomaterials, stem cells, and micro/nanotechnologies to create vascularized tissue models and study cancer metastasis. By examining tumor microenvironments, it drives innovation in personalized medicine, regenerative therapies, and global biomedical challenges through cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Dr. Brandman is a strategic innovator who works across multiple healthcare sectors. She is currently leveraging her deep experience across multiple healthcare sectors to launch a new AI-driven digital platform that provides integration and data services, persona driven processes, and automation to hospitals and their communities with a goal of enabling frictionless care in-home, in the community. Central to everything she does is her vision for patient-centric healthcare and empowering consumers to manage their own healthcare. Her journey began as an internist and includes founding a non-profit charity, Compassionate Access, to improve access to early-stage therapies for patients in need, as well as co-founding two companies focused on advancing early-stage science in cancer and anti-aging.Specialty skills: Telemedicine and virtual primary care, ACOs, product strategies, HIT and mobile health, AI and distributed systems, clinical process improvement, next-generation care delivery, and patient engagement.
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Precision Medicine Access via Learning Health Platform N-of-1 Trials
Science outpaces FDA approval of new treatments. Expanded access doesnt scale. Focusing on patients, combining direct care and research, personalized care, and continuously harvesting data drives a continuous loop of knowledge generation, dissemination, and uptake for populations and individuals. Intro to what is needed to run n-of-1 trials: CRO-Lite services and a Learning Health System.
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
Cancer Commons
Cancer Commons is a non-profit network of patients, scientists, and physicians united by a shared goal—to optimize each patient’s outcome and maximize collective learning to benefit the next patient.
Speaker Profile
Biography
Kyuho Han is a scientist and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in academia and biotech. He pioneered CRISPR functional genomics in 3D solid tumor models, developing a platform for discovering novel cancer biomarkers and targets, with his work featured in Nature in 2020. He co-founded MEDIC Life Sciences, a San Francisco Bay Area company leveraging CRISPR and 3D tumor models for systematic cancer biomarker and target discovery.
Talk
Synthetic Lethal Genetic Signatures to Enable Novel Cancer Therapeutics
MEDiC's MCAT platform, a next-gen CRISPR functional genomics tool using 3D tumors, identifies synthetic lethal genetic signatures for cancer drugs. These multi-biomarker signatures enhance response rates and market viability by identifying patients most likely to benefit, with the potential to revolutionize patient selection for cancer therapies
Clinical & Research Tools Showcase:
MEDiC
MEDiC is a techbio company leveraging next-gen functional genomics and large-scale 3D tumor models to discover novel targets and biomarkers for cancer drugs. Its mission is to decode the cancer genome to transform and streamline drug development, from target identification to clinical applications