Session Chair Profile
Ph.D., Head of Medical Diagnostics, US Medical Affairs Oncology, AstraZeneca
Biography
Dr. Omar Perez has over 17 years designing, deploying, and leading high-visibility oncology initiatives supporting global companion diagnostic developments, strategic partnerships and commercialization opportunities. Before joining AstraZeneca, he oversaw the global CDx developments for the GSK oncology portfolio, leading to diagnostic products for niraparib and dostarlimab. During his time at Pfizer, he led global CDx activities supporting the drug approvals of crizotinib, lorlatinib, dacomitinib talazoparib and inotuzomab. Notably, he led the first FDA approved NGS product for multiple targeted agents and helped establish the Center for Precision Medicine in LATAM to support Pfizer oncology products. Dr. Perez’s background includes roles in biotech and diagnostic companies, including co-founding Nodality, a diagnostic company focused on hematological malignancies. He is an inventor of the multiparametric phospho-proteomic flow technologies and an author of 37 publications and 35 patents.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2022 Silicon Valley
Precision medicine is among the key contributors in progressing cancer survivorship. However,
biomarker testing, which is critical to enabling precision medicine treatments, is below guideline
recommendations due to various factors. The session will discuss these barriers, as well as
bringing tangible and sustainable solutions to patients with cancer through collaboration.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2022 Silicon Valley
- Dismantling Barriers to Biomarker Testing Through Collaboration (PANEL)
Session Chair: Omar Perez, AstraZeneca
- Nikki Martin, LUNGevity
- Laura J. van ’t Veer, UCSF
- Jenn Higgins, Guardant Health
- Kat Kwiatkowski, Strata Oncology - Health Systems Perspective: Leveraging Real-world Evidence to Improve Patient Care (PANEL)
Session Chair: Anna Berry, Syapse
- Mary Walters, Aurora Health
- Haythem Y Ali, Henry Ford Health System - Comprehensive Profiling: Combination of Tissue and Plasma Biomarker Strategies
Session Chair: Maggie Rougier-Chapman, Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx)
- Cynthia Pointer, Genapsys
- Ravi Kolhe, Augusta University
- Stephen Miller, Blueprint Medicines - Immuno-oncology Biomarkers for Predicting Drug Efficacy
Session Chair: Ronnie Andrews, Oncocyte
- Paul Billings, Biological Dynamics
- Kat Kwiatkowski, Strata Oncology - Reimagining Oncology - Closing the Gaps between Science and Clinic (PANEL)
Session Chair: Christian Wolfrum, Siemens Healthineers
- Ben Gonzales, Biognosys AG
- Debanti Sengupta, Varian
- Rangarajan Sampath, Siemens Healthineers
- Isma Benattia, Amgen - Challenges to Implementing Precision Medicine in the Community Setting (PANEL)
Session Chair: Jerry Mitchell, Foundation Medicine
- Erika Brown, One Cancer Place
- Vivian Lee, Patient Advocate
- Kevin B. Knopf, Alameda Health System
- Christopher Woods, Sutter Health - Single Molecule Methylation Profiling of Circulating Tumor DNA
- Hanlee P. Ji, Stanford - Combined Utilization of Precision Medicine Technologies in Primary Clinics
- Gad Rennert, Carmel Medical Center - PMWC Showcase
- Paul Dempsey, Hawkeye Bio, Inc.
