Diagnostic Technology: What’s New and Exciting in Diagnosis

Presented by: Momo Vuyisich, PhD; Guru Banavar, PhD; Sri Venkatesh Ganeshan, MD; and Mark Cannon, DDS

Original Presentation Date: August 24, 2020

Course Description: 

This course consists of a panel discussion led by Dr. Mark Cannon, in which researchers will discuss a number of new diagnostic tests that digitize the human body's chemistry, including human and microbial physiology. 

Learning Objectives:

• Recall the fundamental concepts of systems biology and the human microbiome, including related testing methodologies.
• Differentiate between RNA and DNA concerning their roles in chronic diseases, evaluating their similarities and differences in disease manifestation.
• Demonstrate comprehension of (meta)transcriptomic analyses by explaining their significance and applying these analytical methods in relevant contexts.
• Apply the principles of bioinformatics to elucidate how dental practitioners can utilize this field in their practice for improved patient care.
• Explain the concept of taxonomic classification, describing its importance and relevance in the context of microbiome studies.
• Evaluate and explore the significance of current CLIA-licensed tests, analyzing their implications in clinical practice and patient care within the realm of dental medicine.

Speaker Bios:

Mark L. Cannon received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Nebraska and then attended Northwestern University for his Masters of Pediatric Dentistry. He completed his Children’s Memorial Hospital residency and received his Diplomate status from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a past president of the Illinois Society of Dentistry for Children, a Professor of Otolaryngology Division of Dentistry at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and a member of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition to maintaining an extensive private practice in the suburbs of Chicago, he is the Research Coordinator of the residency program at Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Cannon has presented guest lectures at the University of Athens, Greece; Sao Paulista State University; UNESP, Aracatuba, Brazil; University of Texas- Houston; University of Alabama-Birmingham; and at the University of Illinois, Chicago, Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Momo Vuyisich is the founder and Chief Science Officer of Viome. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Tech. Besides providing scientific leadership at Viome, Momo focuses on product development, clinical accreditation, and clinical research. Besides providing scientific leadership, I focus on product development, conversion of RUO assays into CLIA LDTs, and clinical research. I am also an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and New Mexico Tech (NMT). Before founding Viome, I worked for 12 years as a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where I led the Applied Genomics team. My team's research focused on developing and applying modern genomics to the areas of gut microbiomes, host-pathogen interactions, microbial inter-species interactions, pathogen detection, cancer biology, toxicology, infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, forensics, etc. I also helped set up several turn-key genome centers in Africa and Asia and provided complete staff training in laboratory methods and bioinformatic analyses.

Dr. Guru Banavar is recognized for spearheading the development of Watson, an influential artificial intelligence system at IBM that has significantly impacted AI. His leadership and contributions have showcased Watson's transformative potential on a global scale, earning recognition at esteemed platforms such as the Nobel Prize and the Turing Lecture. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Banavar advocates for systemic improvements across various industries like education, healthcare, transportation, and more. He firmly believes in the power of data to unveil the intricacies of systems, emphasizing its pivotal role in effecting meaningful change and innovation.

Sri Venkatesh Ganeshan, MD, serves as Chief Medical Officer to Iliad. A graduate of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, Dr. Ganeshan’s expertise resides in the therapeutic areas of Oncology, Urology, Transplant, Immunology, Dermatology, Hepatology, Virology and Neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Geneshan has vast experience delivering organizational goals through project leadership, extensive clinical and administrative experience, and thorough knowledge of multiple therapeutic areas. As a former executive at Astellas Pharma US, Dr. Ganeshan successfully launched two first-in-class compounds. Successful in recognizing opportunities and facilitating efforts to improve the process, product knowledge, and clinical outcomes, Sri has a proven ability to build productive associations with clinicians, researchers, and administrators in pursuit of an expanded understanding of disease and treatment options. Dr. Ganeshan brings extensive Clinical trial study management and regulatory affairs experience to the Iliad, including clinical trial design, study medical monitoring, pharmacovigilance, and vendor management. Dr. Geneshan is discussing mitochondrial health determination by buccal cheek swabs.