Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Watch the replay of our discussion and Q&A about the future of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cancer testing with Dr. Maher Albitar, Founder & CEO of Genomic Testing Cooperative (GTC) and former SVP, Chief Medical Officer, and Director of R&D at NeoGenomics below. Dr. Albitar and Health Care Sector Head Tom Tobin had plenty to talk about, as this ~3-year old company has had a busy 2021, including completing New York State approval and securing Medicare (Palmetto) coverage for all DNA and RNA tests offered for Molecular Profiling of Hematologic and Solid Tumors, as well as presenting four abstracts at ASH 2021 in partnership with Anthology Diagnostics (a new collaboration with Hackensack Meridian Health announced in March '21) and Key Genomics (the new lab at John Theurer Cancer Center - opened in May '21). The posters highlighted various use cases for GTC's tests and AI + Machine Learning, and it seems like the Co-Op model is gaining traction and may become a threat to traditional models. The potential for AI and ML to improve the process, data to be shared, etc. allow a network effect to accelerate test development. We also covered the outlook for pan-cancer testing, the need for insurers/reimbursement to catch up with technology, liquid biopsy using RNA and tumor-informed testing ("tissue remains the Gold Standard"), and much more.
CLICK HERE to access Hedgeye's associated slides.
CLICK HERE to access GTC's presentation.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Maher Albitar, Founder & CEO of GTC (2018), has extensive experience in anatomic/clinical pathology, hematopathology, and molecular pathology. He also has extensive business and administrative experience as an executive leader of large laboratories, Board member, and director of large scientific and genomic diagnostic studies. Until 2018, Dr. Albitar was the Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Director of Research and Development at NeoGenomics, where he led the transformation from FISH, Flow, and other "legacy" testing to a company offering the most sophisticated molecular testing.
Prior to NeoGenomics, Dr. Albitar served as the Medical Director for Hematopathology and Oncology, Nichols Institute, Quest Diagnostics, and Chief R&D for Hematopathology and Oncology for Quest Diagnostics from 2003 to 2010. From 1991 to 2003, Dr. Albitar held various faculty positions at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, including Section Chief of Leukemia Section in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department, Director of the molecular laboratory and Director of Hematopathology Fellowship program.
Dr. Albitar was a tenured full professor in Pathology and Leukemia at the time of leaving MD Anderson Cancer Center and is a certified AP/CP pathologist with fellowship training in Hematopathology and molecular pathology. After his training in Hematopathology, Dr. Albitar spent 4 years in Physician/Scientist training program at the University of Pennsylvania/Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Genetics. Dr. Albitar has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and review articles. He is the lead inventor on more than 50 different patents and patent applications.
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Thomas Tobin
Managing Director
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