Speaker Profile
PMWC PIONEER AWARD
From first WGS-treated patient to large-scale genomic programs
Ph.D., Vice President, Quantitative Medicine & Genomics, Abbvie
Biography
Howard J. Jacob, Ph. D., brings decades of genome knowledge from academiaand the clinical setting to address the current state of whole genomesequencing and its potential for both patients and those interested inlearning more about their own DNA. Jacob is the Vice President and Head of Genomics and Data Integration at AbbVie and Distinguished Research Fellowand member of the scientific Governing Board. He joined AbbVie in January2019 to lead one of the largest Genomics Research Center efforts in thefield with access to over one million genomes and clinical data. Inaddition, he leads AbbVies RD-wide Data Integration Program (called Convergence) which brings together all types of data to create knowledge tosolve and ultimately improve treatment for patients. The Convergence teamrecently launched the AbbVie Research Collaborative, a health data platformthat enables patients to share their health data with AbbVie researchers tohelp advance the development of new medicines. Jacob earned his Ph. D. at theuniversity of Iowa and then completed a post-doctorate with Eric Lander and Victor Dzai at MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. Prior to his work at AbbVie, he led the clinical teams at the worlds first stand-alone genomic medicineclinic, as well as a whole genome clinical sequencing lab. Jacob haspublished over 250 peer-reviewed articles. He founded four companies and ison the advisory boards for numerous academic and commercialorganizations. As a pioneer and leader in genomics, in 2009, Howard and his team at the Medical College of Wisconsin were the first in the world to usegenomic sequencing to save the life of a patient. Nicholasstory was highlighted in a Pulitzer Prize winning series in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Talk
Common Diseases Arent Always What They Seem
Despite advances in molecular diagnostics, the effect of rare diseases on the diagnosis of common diseases in clinical trials has not been comprehensively investigated. New data shows the value of systematic genome sequencing in understanding the phenotypic heterogeneity of common diseases and the benefits of molecular phenotyping in patient care.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Burns Blaxall
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Euan Ashley, Stanford
• Jeffrey R. Balser, Vanderbilt
• Howard J. Jacob, Abbvie
Precision Medicine at Scale: Lessons from Vanderbilt
• Jeffrey R. Balser, Vanderbilt
From First Patient to a Million Genomes
• Chair: Howard J. Jacob, Abbvie
• Jeffrey R. Balser, Vanderbilt
• Euan Ashley, Stanford
Keynote: AI and Data-Driven Individual Health: Optimizing Wellness, Preventing Disease and Empowering Precision Medicine
• Lee Hood, Phenome Health
Keys to successful implementation of a Precision Medicine Program
• Chair: Howard McLeod, GeneDx
• Kevan Simms, Ochsner Health
• Chris Lunt, NIH
Key players in successful implementation – Beyond Oncology
• Chair: Damon Hostin, Illumina
• Shaista Malik, UC Irvine
• David E. Lanfear, Henry Ford Health
• Oren Caspi, Rambam
Precision Medicine at Scale: Lessons from a Statewide Genomic Initiative
• Chair: Premal Shah, MyOme
• Niall Lennon, Broad Clinical Labs
Integrating Multi-Modal Biology into Precision Care Pathways: A Systems Framework for Scalable Implementation
• K V Venkatesh, IIT Mumbai
Fireside Chat: From $/Gb to Outcomes: Simplifying Genomics for Health Systems
• Jacob Thaysen, Illumina
Achieving Comprehensive Precision Medicine
• Chair: Burns Blaxall
• Trish Brown, GeneDx
• Charles Sailey, Molecular Testing Labs
• Sarah Hersey, BMS
