Speaker Profile
M.D., Associate Professor, Fred Hutch
Biography
Dr. Parsons cares for patients with breast cancer. She leads the Fred Hutch Breast Oncology Program. Her research focuses on its impact on public health, with an emphasis on developing new diagnostic approaches to support patient care.
As a clinical translational investigator, Dr. Parsons studies how genomics based biomarkers and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA, or tumor derived DNA found in the blood) can be used in caring for people with breast cancer. She has led studies in both early stage and metastatic breast cancer examining the use of ctDNA as a biomarker to better understand disease behavior and response to treatment.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2027 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Emre Baser, AstraZeneca
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Max Diehn, Stanford (Pioneer)
• Sarah-Jane Dawson, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre / University of Melbourne (Luminary)
Featured Speakers
• Max Diehn, Stanford
• Sarah-Jane Dawson, University of Melbourne
• Phil Febbo, Veracyte
• Ash Alizadeh, Stanford
• Adrian Lee, University of Pittsburgh
• Emre Baser, AstraZeneca
• Keith Flaherty, Mass General
• Thomas Powles, Barts Cancer Institute
Early-Stage Cancer: Can MRD Decide Who Needs More Treatment?
When ctDNA should change escalation, de-escalation, and surveillance.
Advanced Cancer Monitoring
Detecting response, resistance, and relapse early enough to switch therapy.
From Blood to Drug
Liquid biopsy for therapy selection and matching patients to the right intervention.
Integrating Tissue, Liquid & Imaging Biomarkers
How multimodal monitoring should work in real oncology care.
MRD as a Surrogate Endpoint
The promise and hazards of using MRD to accelerate drug approval.
PMWC Hall of Impact
Previous Speakers Include
Nobel laureates, technology founders, regulators, CEOs and scientific pioneers who have taken the PMWC stage.
