Speaker Profile
PMWC PIONEER AWARD
Advancing liquid biopsy by uncovering circulating tumor cells and founding the European Liquid Biopsy Society
M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Chair, European Liquid Biopsy Society
Biography
Klaus Pantel is a global pioneer in liquid biopsy whose groundbreaking research established circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and micrometastases as clinically meaningful biomarkers. His work revealed how tumor cells disseminate early in cancer progression and provided the first evidence that these rare cells could guide prognosis and therapy monitoring. Pantels leadership extended beyond the lab with the founding of the European Liquid Biopsy Society, creating the infrastructure and collaborations needed to advance blood-based cancer detection worldwide. His contributions have transformed liquid biopsy from a research concept into a cornerstone of precision oncology, enabling earlier detection, real-time treatment monitoring, and more effective cancer care.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Victor Velculescu, Johns Hopkins
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Klaus Pantel, UKE & ELBS
• Daniel De Carvalho, University of Toronto
Keynote
• Klaus Pantel, UKE & ELBS
From Mutation to Methylation: The Next Wave of Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers
• Chair: Victor Velculescu, Johns Hopkins
• Daniel De Carvalho, University of Toronto
• Manel Esteller, Sant Pau Research Institute
Advancing Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Detection through cfDNA and cfRNA Profiling
• Chair: Luis Diaz, MSKCC
• Anne-Renee Hartman, Adela
• Klaus Pantel, UKE & ELBS
AI-Informed Biomarker Trials: Turning Early Detection Signals into Clinically Actionable Designs
• Chair: Manish Kohli, University of Utah
• Luis Diaz, MSKCC
• Amoolya Singh, DELFI Diagnostics
• Peter Bach, DELFI Diagnostics
Fragmentomics for Early Detection: End Motifs and Library Prep
• Varsha Rao, Claret Bioscience
Integrating Genetic Risk with Early Detection: A Precision Prevention Framework for Cardiovascular Disease
• Giordano Botta, Allelica
Role of AI in Liquid Biopsies and Cancer Detection
• Chair: Amoolya Singh, DELFI Diagnostics
• Matthew Baker, Dxcover
