January 25, 2017
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST
Sponsored by
Webinar Description:
In this webinar, we will provide an introduction to NGS-based molecular diagnostics and how they are used to identify and stratify patient populations for oncology. We will compare DNA-based and RNA-based
approaches, and the advantages of each. A new RNA-seq based assay, coined Pinnacle, will be introduced and preliminary results of a small lung cancer study with unique EML-4ALK transcripts will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
- Brief overview of NGS-based molecular diagnostics and their applications in cancer testing and treatment
- Discuss improved insights with RNA-seq expression and fusion data
- Introduction to a streamlined and targeted assay: Cofactor Pinnacle
Speaker Information:
Natalie LaFranzo, PhD
Director of Scientific Projects and Market Development
Cofactor Genomics, Inc.
Natalie LaFranzo earned her PhD in Chemistry at Washington University, with an interdisciplinary focus on developing new chemical tools to study neurobiology and development. Natalie first joined the team at Cofactor from 2013-2015, when she served
as a Project Scientist and developed customized experimental design solutions for both DNA and RNA sequencing and analysis projects. Then, as a Product Manager at Horizon Discovery’s Diagnostics Division, Natalie developed and supported
the launch of human, genetically-defined reference standards with highly characterized products for oncology researchers to optimize and benchmark their assays. As a member of the regulatory team, she provided guidance on the US regulatory environment,
and presented at two FDA workshops on next-generation sequencing. Natalie now applies these same rigorous, quantitative checkpoints to Cofactor’s RNA diagnostic development programs, as the Director of Scientific Projects and Market Development.
Eric Duncavage, MD
Assistant Professor of Pathology & Immunology
Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Duncavage is board-certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, molecular pathology, and hematopathology. Eric is part of the Washington University Genomic Pathology Services core, where he is involved in the design, validation, and sign-out
of clinical next generation sequencing-based molecular testing. His research interests include development of bioinformatics methods in molecular oncology, and the biologies of myelodysplastic syndromes and Merkel cell carcinoma. Eric is a member
of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) for sequencing-based clinical diagnostics, and currently serves as the Medical Director at Cofactor Genomics.
(January 25, 2017)