Speaker Profile
PMWC PIONEER AWARD
Transformed the molecular understanding of prostate cancer and built precision oncology tools that now guide patient care worldwide
M.D., Ph.D., Director, U. of Michigan
Biography
Arul Chinnaiyan is a globally recognized cancer genomics innovator whose discoveries have reshaped the molecular understanding of prostate and other solid tumors. He led the landmark discovery of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion, the defining molecular event in prostate cancer, which opened the door to genomic subclassification and precision diagnostics now used worldwide.His lab pioneered integrative sequencing approaches that uncover actionable drivers of advanced cancers, leading to the development of clinical tests that match patients to targeted therapies. Chinnaiyans work has generated multiple cancer gene signatures, therapeutic targets, and diagnostic platforms, many of which have translated into routine clinical practice.He also built one of the nations most advanced precision oncology infrastructures, enabling real-time molecular profiling for patients and powering numerous discoveries that bridge basic science with clinical impact. His contributions have shaped the fields of functional genomics, biomarker discovery, and translational oncology, influencing how modern cancer care is delivered.Widely regarded as one of the most impactful physician-scientists of his generation, Chinnaiyans innovations continue to guide therapy decisions, inform drug development, and improve outcomes for patients globally.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Adrian Lee, University of Pittsburgh
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Dennis J. Slamon, UCLA
• Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan
Keynote
• Dennis J. Slamon, UCLA
Keynote: From Cancer Drivers to Clinical Decisions – Transforming Tumor Genomics into Therapy Guidance
• Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan
Serial ctDNA-Guided Therapy Switching (SERENA-6 & Beyond)
• Chair: Adrian Lee, UPMC
• Pedram Razavi, MSK
• Minetta Liu, Natera
Neoadjuvant to Adjuvant MRD: How Early Is Early Enough?
• Chair: Angela DeMichele, University of Pennsylvania
• Halla Nimeiri, Tempus
• Aparna Parikh, Harvard
• Minetta Liu, Natera
• Christopher Lieu, University of Colorado
Multi-Omics Monitoring Beyond Variants: Methylation, Fragmentomics, EV/ctRNA
• David T. Miyamoto, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Maximilian Diehn, Stanford
• Daniel De Carvalho, University of Toronto
• Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan
Rapid MRD to Treatment Decisions: Standardized ctDNA at Scale
• Chair: Luca Quagliata, ThermoFisher
From Validation to Payment: Coverage Pathways That Work
• Chair: Mark Stewart, Friends of Cancer Research
• Hilary Gee Goeckner, American Cancer Society
• Sally Werner, Cancer Support Community
• Gabriel A. Bien-Willner, Palmetto GBA
