INTERVIEWS

Recent research suggests that the loss of muscle mass is associated with compromised immunity and infections.  Dr. Suzette Pereira, Ph.D., a muscle health researcher and scientist, discusses how muscle mass can impact health status and outcomes, especially amongst older, high-risk, and chronically ill patients.  She talks about the type of lifestyle changes that can be made to maintain or improve muscle mass to help strengthen the immune system, and supplements that healthcare providers can recommend when seniors can’t get the nutrition they need to support muscle growth from diet alone. 

Returning guest, Dr. David Spetzler, President and Chief Scientific Officer at Caris® Life Sciences discusses partnering with Merus, a clinical-stage oncology company, to detect neuregulin 1 (NRG1) fusions in cancer patients using Caris’ whole exome and whole transcriptome sequencing. The goal of this collaboration is to use Caris’ extensive suite of breakthrough next-generation sequencing technology to identify patients who may be eligible for Merus’ bispecific antibody Zenocutuzumab (“Zeno”) Phase 1/2 eNRGy trial and Early Access Program.

Dr. Avi Fischer, M.D., Divisional Vice President, MedicalAffairs, and Chief Medical Officer for Cardiac RhythmManagement (CRM) at Abbott discusses the recent FDA approval of the next-generation Gallant™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) devices. The new devices offer built-in smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth for increased patient-physician engagement and streamlined communications. The Gallant high voltage platforms connect to Abbott’s secure myMerlinPulse™ mobile app to allow for continuous remote monitoring and seamlessly integrates into people’s day-to-day lives.

Ruby Gadelrab, CEO and Co-founder of MDisrupt, the first-of-its-kind medical diligence company, discusses how they are helping health-tech startups demonstrate viability and bring health products to market faster and more responsibly.  The company is also launching an on-demand health industry expert platform to connect a wide range of highly specialized medical and scientific professionals with emerging health tech companies that will most benefit from their expertise.

Wesley Gilson, Ph.D., Artificial Intelligence Lead for Siemens Healthineers North America discusses the idea that an AI revolution in healthcare is not inevitable. He talks about why AI in healthcare can only properly be implemented with investment, collaboration, and a human-focused approach. Siemens Healthineers has been working with collaboration partners in France, New York, Switzerland, and Canada to develop a new algorithm for use in chest CT imaging to help healthcare professionals more quickly and easily identify pneumonia and measure disease severity in patients with suspected COVID-19 infection.

Dr. Kathryn Lang, vice president of Health Outcomes and Evidence at Guardant Health discusses research highlighting the significance of its LUNAR-2 liquid biopsy test in detecting early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) with clinically meaningful accuracy. These data were presented during the American Cancer Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Meeting II in Abstract #2316: “Integrated genomic and epigenomic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis for the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer”.

Returning guest, Dr. Steve Tilles, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Aimmune Therapeutics, the first company to gain FDA approval of a peanut allergy treatment, PALFORZIA™, discusses his experience as an allergist, where the allergy immunology market is headed over the next year and provides real-world insight into practices reopening in light of COVID-19.

Returning guest, Dr. Susan Mitmesser, VP of Science and Technology at Pharmavite, makers of Nature Made vitamins and supplements, discusses a review paper by Pharmavite that was recently published in “Nutrients” where the correlation between nutrient inadequacies, immune function, and weakened immune response is shown in American adults.

Daniel Simon discusses the GuardantINFORM™ platform featuring an extensive clinical-genomic liquid biopsy dataset of advanced cancer patients. The platform is intended to help accelerate research and development of the next generation of cancer therapeutics by offering biopharma partners an in-silico platform that combines de-identified longitudinal clinical information and genomic data collected from the Guardant360® liquid biopsy test —over 100,000 tests to date.

Galderma’s “Beyond the visible: rosacea and psoriasis of the face” is a global survey involving over 600 patients with facial skin disease (rosacea or psoriasis) and 361 doctors across 6 countries.  Here to discuss the findings of the survey and the burden on patients’ productivity and daily lives is one of the report authors, board-certified dermatologist and Galderma consultant, Dr. Julie Harper.