Speaker Profile
M.D., Chief Scientific & Medical Officer, Veracyte
Biography
Dr. Phil Febbo is Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Veracyte, a global cancer diagnostics company where he remains focused on improving cancer outcomes through the discovery, development, and accessibility of innovative, high-quality molecular diagnostics. He held multiple clinical and scientific roles over 15 years in academia at Dana-Farber, Harvard Medical School, the Whitehead Institute for Genome Research, Duke University, and UCSF where he was Professor of Medicine and Urology. After transitioning to industry, he was Chief Medical Officer at Genomic Health (2013-2018) and Illumina (2018-2023). Dr. Febbo served on the boards of Varian Inc. (Director) and the A CMG Foundation and is currently on the boards of the Reagan Udall Foundation for the FDA (Vice-Chair) and ASC Os Conquer Cancer Foundation. He holds a B. A. in Biology from Dartmouth College, an M. D. from UCSF, completed internal medicine residency at the Brigham and Womens Hospital, and medical oncology fellowship at the DFCI.
Talk
My talk will highlight how transcriptomic and whole‑genome testing together illustrate a self‑reinforcing learning system in molecular diagnostics. Each transcriptomic test contributes real‑world molecular data that sharpens our understanding of disease biology and informs new biomarkers and algorithmic improvements. Extending this model to whole‑genome MRD testing, every ctDNA result and orthogonal signal—such as methylation or cfRNA—adds to a growing map of tumor dynamics and guides the next iteration of assay design. Through this continuous loop of testing, learning, and discovery, we are building diagnostics that not only answer today’s clinical questions but also uncover the insights needed for tomorrow’s innovations.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair:
Adrian Lee, UPMC
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Dennis J. Slamon, UCLA
• Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan
Keynote: Molecular Diversity of Human Malignancies: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications
• Dennis J. Slamon, UCLA
Keynote: From Cancer Drivers to Clinical Decisions: Transforming Tumor Genomics
• Arul M. Chinnaiyan, University of Michigan
Serial ctDNA-Guided Therapy Switching (SERENA-6 & Beyond)
• Chair: Adrian Lee, UPMC
• Pedram Razavi, MSK
• Minetta Liu, Natera
• Emre Baser, Astrazeneca
• Christian Rolfo, Ohio State
Neoadjuvant to Adjuvant MRD: How Early Is Early Enough?
• Chair: Angela DeMichele, UPenn
• Halla Nimeiri, Tempus
• Aparna Parikh, Harvard
• Minetta Liu, Natera
• C. Ola Landgren, U Miami
• Christopher Lieu, U Colorado
Rapid MRD to Treatment Decisions: Standardized ctDNA at Scale
• Chair: Luca Quagliata, Thermo Fisher
• Christian Rolfo, Ohio State
Multi-Omics Monitoring Beyond Variants: Methylation, Fragmentomics, EV/ctRNA
• Chair: David T. Miyamoto, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Maximilian Diehn, Stanford
• Daniel De Carvalho, University of Toronto
From Detection to Direction: Whole-Genome MRD for Therapy Guidance at Scale
• Phil Febbo, Veracyte
Precision Engineering: Customizing High-Sensitivity ctDNA Assays for Therapy Guidance at Scale
• Siyuan Chen, Twist Bioscience
From Validation to Payment: Coverage Pathways That Work
• Chair: Mark Stewart, Friends of Cancer Research
• Hilary Gee Goeckner, American Cancer Society (ACS)
• Sally Werner, Cancer Support Community
• Gabriel A. Bien-Willner, Palmetto GBA
