June 19, 2024
Advancing Diagnostic Accessibility: Insights from Industry Leaders
The recent webinar, "NextGen Diagnostics: Democratizing Access to Advanced Screening," brought together a panel of experts to discuss the integration of cutting-edge technologies into diagnostic practices, with a strong focus on making these tools accessible to underserved populations.
Moderated by Blandine Merino, AVP of Strategy at Agilent Technologies and founder of a biotech management consulting firm, the event highlighted innovative approaches aimed at broadening the reach of advanced diagnostic solutions.
Key Insights from the Panel
Dr. Daniel Kraft: Bridging Innovation and Implementation
Dr. Daniel Kraft, a seasoned physician-scientist and entrepreneur, shed light on the convergence of AI, advanced imaging, and other diagnostic technologies. He underscored the potential of these innovations to enhance early disease detection and precision in treatment. However, Kraft pointed out significant hurdles in regulation and reimbursement frameworks that lag behind technological advances. He emphasized the importance of evolving healthcare models alongside these technologies, emphasizing the need to adopt a mindset of continuous innovation—not just in technology but also in our healthcare models—to truly transform patient outcomes.
Dr. Vin Gupta: Overcoming Barriers in Lung Cancer Screening
Public health physician Dr. Vin Gupta focused on the specific challenges faced in lung cancer screening, particularly the low utilization rates of low-dose CT scans. He highlighted the crucial role of patient engagement and trust in increasing adoption rates. Dr. Gupta advocated for the integration of genetic and molecular testing to personalize treatment further, highlight that the key to increasing adoption of lung cancer screenings is not only in advancing technology but also in ensuring that patients trust and understand the benefits of early detection.
Dr. Ashkan Afshin: The Promising Future of Proteomics
Dr. Ashkan Afshin, CEO of Novelna and a public health scientist, discussed how proteomics is transforming early disease detection. By developing more accessible and cost-effective proteomics-based blood tests, Novelna aims to detect diseases at their earliest stages with higher accuracy. Dr. Afshin highlighted the potential for proteomics to change healthcare prevention and management significantly, remarking proteomics is the frontier in our fight against disease, offering a new dimension of early detection that could drastically alter how we approach healthcare prevention and management.
Moving Forward
The webinar underscored the necessity for diagnostic innovations to be both technologically advanced and widely accessible. It called for a collaborative approach among technologists, policymakers, and healthcare providers to ensure that new diagnostic tools reach all segments of the population, particularly those who are most in need.
As diagnostic technologies continue to evolve, the industry faces the challenge of ensuring these advancements are not only about technological breakthroughs but also about genuine accessibility and integration into healthcare systems worldwide. This balance will be crucial in transforming diagnostic practices and achieving more equitable healthcare outcomes globally.
Blandine Merino: Moderator
Blandine Merino is a seasoned business executive with over two decades of experience leading product, business, and strategy at top-tier companies like Guardant Health, Freenome, and now Agilent. Specializing in NGS, digital pathology and machine learning-powered cancer detection programs, she has a proven track record of driving innovation and growth. As the founder of Bio2Market, a boutique strategy management consulting firm with teams in the US and EU, Blandine has successfully supported leading companies at the intersection of machine learning and life sciences such as Grail, Delfi, Myriad, Universal Dx, Personalis, Karius, Spring Discovery, NIH, Precordior and others.
For more information about Novelna and its future events, please visit www.novelna.com.
Contact Information: info@novelna.com
About Novelna Inc.: Novelna is a proteomics-based liquid biopsy startup, transforming cancer diagnostics. Our mission is simple: ensure early disease detection is not a privilege, but a right for all. By advancing diagnostic technologies, we are committed to securing a healthier and brighter future globally.