Speaker Profile
PMWC LUMINARY AWARD
Pioneer of non-invasive prenatal genetic testing and fetal cell microchimerism research, her leadership in the Human Placenta Project has improved maternal and fetal health outcomes.
M.D., Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health
Biography
Dr. Bianchi's research focuses on noninvasive prenatal DNA screening, its consequences for fetal and maternal health, and development of novel prenatal therapies for genetic disorders. She manages a 1.75B research portfolio on women's and children's health. She has had multiple leadership roles in international societies. Dr. Bianchi has received many awards, including election to the US National Academy of Medicine, the 2015 Neonatal Landmark Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the 2016 Maureen Andrew Award for Mentorship, the 2017 lifetime achievement award in Medical Genetics from the March of Dimes, and the ISPDs 2019 Pioneer Award. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Amsterdam and the Health Public Service Visionary Award from the Society for Womens Health Research in 2020. In 2022 she was a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals and was named as one of Forbes.com Fifty (women) Over 50 in the category Impact.
Talk
Prenatal DNA Sequencing and Incidental Detection of Maternal Cancer
One in 1000 pregnant people have cancer. Maternal malignancy is a potential explanation for nonreportable cell-free (cf) DNA sequencing of maternal blood. I will be presenting results from the NIH IDENTIFY study that aims to generate evidence to inform reporting guidelines and the subsequent diagnostic workup of pregnant people for cancer.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley
Track Co-Chairs:
Yoel Sadovsky, UPMC
C. Noel Bairey Merz, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Program Theme: Women's Health Innovation.
- PMWC 2025 Award Ceremony
Pioneer Honoree: Nanette K. Wenger, Emory University
Luminary Honoree: Diana Bianchi, NIH
- Keynote: Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Sequencing and Incidental Detection of Maternal Cancer
- Diane Bianchi, NIH
- Keynote: Understanding the Journey : Women and Coronary Heart Disease
- Nanette K. Wenger, Emory University
- Innovations in Alzheimer's and Women's Health
Chair: TBA
- Aparna Vasanthakumar, Abbvie
- Duygu Tosun-Turgut, UCSF
- Innovations in Women's Cardiovascular Health: From Research to Practice
Chair: Noel Bairey Merz, Cedars-Sinai
- Janet Wright, CDC
- Christine Albert, Cedars-Sinai
- Garima Sharma, Inova Health System
- Roxana Mehran, Mount Sinai - From Fertility to Pregnancy
Chair: Yoel Sadovsky, Magee Women's Research Inst.
- Linda Giudice, UCSF (Endometriosis and its Role in Fertility)
- Paolo Rinaudo, UCSF (Harnessing Data to Enhance Fertility Research and Treatments)
- Vittorio Sebastiano, Stanford (Stem Cells in Fertility and Aging: Bridging the Gap)
- Ruth Bunker Lathi, Stanford (Understanding Miscarriage: Differentiating Maternal and Fetal Causes to Improve Outcomes)
- Aleksandar Rajkovic, UCSF (Unraveling the Genetics Behind Uterine Fibroids: Implications for Women's Health)
- PMWC Showcase
- Jeremy Grushcow, Juniper Genomics
- Harnessing Pre-Pregnancy Data to Predict Pregnancy Health
Chair: Yoel Sadovsky, Magee Women's Research Inst.
- Louise Laurent, UCSD (Advancements in RNA-based Biomarker Discovery for gestational diseases)
- Mike Snyder, Stanford (The Role of Biological Clocks in Pregnancy: Insights from Multi-Omics Analysis)
- Alison Paquette, Seattle Children's Research Institute (Multi-Omics Analysis of the Placenta: Unlocking New Insights into Pregnancy Health)
