MEETING PREVIEW: Circulating Biomarkers 2016

The 2016 Biotexcel conference ‘Circulating Biomarkers’ will take place at the University of Abertay, Dundee, UK, on 12–13 October, 2016. This is the third such annual meeting and they have fast become one of the highlights of the year for workers in this field.
Circulating biomarkers, such as the various forms of circulating DNA, RNA, tumour cells and exosomes, have proved useful for diagnostics and the monitoring of treatment. Previous meetings have seen presentations about the discovery of circulating biomarkers as well as subsequent validation and blood-biopsy test development. This year, the focus is expanding to include other kinds of least-invasive and non-invasive biomarkers. With its unique format, delegates include participants from science, industry, medicine and engineering and dedicated networking sessions allow broad collaborations between the different disciplines to facilitate the development of new diagnostics.
The meeting includes presentations from leaders of their fields from the UK, Germany and the USA, including
Prof. David Cameron, Edinburgh, UK
Prof. Markus Metzler, Germany
Prof. Craig Beam, USA, and others)
Prof Sue Burchill, Leeds, UK
Prof Colin Palmer, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK
Prof Angie Cox, Sheffield, UK
Dr Clare Vesely, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK

The topics to be covered are:

  • Circulating free tumour DNA
  • Circulating micro RNA
  • Circulating Tumour Cells
  • Fluid & Blood Biopsy Biomarkers & Examples of Translation into the Clinic
  • Case Study: “Biomarker to Diagnostic” Pathway
  • Non-invasive/Least-invasive biomarkers in Ascites, Hair, Saliva, Urine, CSF, Faeces etc
  • PDX – Patient Derived Xenograft models for Biomarkers.

The meeting will also have presentations on the latest technology developments from Analytik Jena, Covaris and Angle Plc.
In addition to presentations, the meeting will also host a panel debate on “How do we break the translational bottle-neck and move circulating biomarkers into the Clinic?”, a poster session and award as well as a complimentary drinks reception hosted by the Lord Provost at City Chambers for all delegates and a 3-course networking dinner at Malmaison.
This meeting is intended to be suitable for researchers and group heads working with circulating biomarkers, researchers working on translational medicine as well as those in the NHS, private labs, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and service providers.

Please see the Biotexcel webstite (https://biotexcel.com/event/circulating-biomarkers-2016/) for further details of the meeting as well as the speakers and agenda.  Registration can be done through the Biotexcel website or the button on the CLi website www.cli-online.com.