Dr. Robert A. Stern, Nationally Acclaimed CTE Expert, B.U., and Dr. Robert A. Weinberg, Pioneer in Cancer Research, MIT, to Keynote at Powering Precision Health 2016
Preeminent Summit Kicks Off "Precision Health Awareness Week" Proclaimed by Governor Charlie Baker
Sep 16, 2016, 06:50 ET
BOSTON and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Powering Precision Health 2016, the nation's first biomedical innovation-driven summit, today announced that Dr. Robert Stern, Boston University, and Dr. Robert A. Weinberg, MIT/Whitehead Institute, will speak at the upcoming summit on September 26, 2016 at the Boston Marriott Cambridge. The first annual summit brings together physicians, researchers, innovators, regulators, policy makers, investors, and patient advocates who share the common goal of transforming today's sick care to precision healthcare.
"Powering Precision Health will focus on cutting edge research and trends utilizing translational biomarkers, molecular technologies, and cellular systems for neurology, oncology and cardiology, and inflammation associated with diseases," explained Kevin Hrusovsky, Founder & Chairman, Powering Precision Health Summit, Executive Chairman & CEO, Quanterix. "The ultimate vision for the summit is to create a culture of health and wellness where disease prevention guides not only our healthcare system, but our everyday living."
Dr. Stern will speak about diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) during life. CTE is a unique neurodegenerative disease associated with a history of repetitive head impacts, including concussive and subconcussive trauma, such as that experienced by contact sport athletes (e.g., American football players, boxers). Currently CTE can only be diagnosed through postmortem neuropathological examination. The ability to diagnose CTE during life is critically important to understanding the epidemiology of the disease, as well as the examination of specific risk factors (e.g., head impact exposure, genetics), and the ability to conduct clinical trials for treatment and prevention. Dr. Stern, the lead investigator for the recently funded DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project, a $16 million study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will unveil new findings of potential biomarkers for CTE and discuss how these results may also lead to early detection and diagnosis of other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Weinberg will address research examining the interactions between the two major types of cells that produce carcinomas, and the processes by which cancer cells invade and metastasize. Weinberg is world-renowned for his discovery of the first human oncogene, RAS, and the cloning of the first tumor suppressor gene, Rb, which led to the discovery that cancer arises as a result of genetic mutations. Weinberg's research provided the foundation for our understanding of cancer biology today, and set the framework for the future of precision medicine. In April of 2016, he was honored for his seminal contributions to cancer research and cancer biology with the 13th annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research, and the prestigious Salk Institute Medal for Research Excellence.
"We are excited to have Dr. Stern and Dr. Weinberg, two of the world's most respected researchers, share their scientific discoveries in CTE and cancer research. CTE is justifiably receiving considerable attention in households around the world given the mounting evidence that the accumulated effect of concussions and subconcussive trauma can lead to this devastating neurodegenerative disease. And in oncology, while we are making incredible progress in cancer management through early detection, treatments, and vaccines, the wrath of cancer continues to devastate families and households around the world. Objective, early detection methodologies, preventative sciences, and personalized treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer are critically important to impact precision health," added Hrusovsky.
Powering Precision Health will be attended by hundreds of leading researchers from academia, pharma/biopharma, government research institutes, CROs and clinical labs. The summit boasts a cadre of global experts who will participate in three executive panel sessions, diving deep into scientific solutions based on novel research for preventing, detecting and treating diseases, long before symptoms present. For more information visit www.pphsummit.com and join the conversation on social media using hashtag #PPHSUMMIT: Twitter @PPHSUMMIT and @KevinHrusovsky Facebook @PPH2016 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/powering-precision-health-2016
Official Sponsors of Powering Precision Health 2016
The Official Sponsors of the inaugural summit are: Quanterix (high definition diagnostics), Cellaria Biosciences (patient-specific tumor models), MassBio (nonprofit biotech council), ProterixBio (innovative chronic disease management), InCarda Therapeutics (inhalation therapies for cardiac conditions), ADx NeuroSciences (biomarker-assays for neurodegenerative diseases), Abbott Laboratories (global healthcare and research), Banyan Biomarkers (diagnostic blood test for TBI) and Avison Young (commercial real estate services). For sponsorship opportunities, contact Kathy Coffey at [email protected].
About Powering Precision Health Summit
Powering Precision Health 2016 is the nation's first summit dedicated to bringing the world's leading physicians and scientists together to unveil their latest research on new biomarkers that are revolutionizing precision health. Founded by Kevin Hrusovsky, a widely acclaimed thought leader and visionary in life sciences and personalized medicine, PPHSummit is an executive think tank of researchers and clinicians working together to transform healthcare. Addressing a wide spectrum of therapeutic areas -- neurology, cardiology, oncology, inflammation and infectious disease -- PPHSummit unveils groundbreaking approaches to prevention, early diagnosis, and nextgen treatments. PPHSUMMIT features an unprecedented keynote lineup of dignitaries from Harvard Medical School, Mass General Hospital, MIT, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Tufts, Whitehead Institute, Boston University and more. Join the conversation on social media using hashtag #PPHSUMMIT. For more information: www.pphsummit.com, Twitter @PPHSUMMIT, @KevinHrusovsky, Facebook @PPHC2016, Email: [email protected], Mobile/Text: 978-302-1198.
Contact: Heidi Creighton, 978-302-1198, [email protected]
SOURCE Powering Precision Health Summit