Technological Advancements for Diagnostics Sequencing

Kaitlin Searfoss:
Hi everyone. Welcome to this podcast from Cambridge Healthtech Institute for Next Generation Diagnostic Summit, which runs August 19th through 20th, 2015, in Washington DC. I'm Kaitlin Searfoss, Associate Conference Producer. We have with us today one of our chairs from the Molecular Diagnostics for Infectious Disease Conference, Reinier Babiel, PhD, Executive Director of Consulting at RBDC. Dr. Babiel, thank you for joining us. What kind of impact has NGS had on the infectious disease diagnostics field?

Reinier Babiel:
NGS has developed as a key enabling technology for infectious diseases over the last couple of years. I think this could only be compared to the discovery and application of PCR technology in the 80s of the last century. In essence, it has revolutionized the entire field of infectious diseases in many levels.

Kaitlin Searfoss:
What are some key advancements scientists and technology developers have made in diagnostic sequencing this past year?

Reinier Babiel:
I think if you would only look at the year actually ... I think this is probably underestimating the advancements which have been coming up through this entire field. I think you have to look a little bit more over the last couple of years. I would say the latest advancement I have seen, is the application of NGS sequencing to health care questions, which are of impact to patients. Meaning, for example, there have been really nice studies on infections of MRSA, and special care units for babies. These studies actually have been fruitful in the way, actually, that even very rare cases of infections have been able to detect, and also, to assess quantitatively.

This has never been able to predicate technologies. Other areas, which I think are still progressing, and which are now even moving into an IVT type of workspace ... Bio-resistance on Hepatitis C and HIV for example, and one of the fascinating arm this technology is taking now, is that the Next-Gen Sequencing technology is focusing on attributes like accuracy of the technology, which, very important and key for clinical decision making. Therefore, also the involvement of technologies and the accurate benchmarking of Next-Gen Sequencing technologies regarding the capability to provide accurate results, has become a very important topic.

 

Kaitlin Searfoss:
What are you most looking forward to at the Molecular Diagnostics for Infectious Disease Conference?

Reinier Babiel:
I'm looking here on an exchange of the latest concepts and advancements with colleagues working and practicing, and researching in the field. I think this would be an exciting opportunity to really discuss the latest concepts and features. For example, in areas still evolving very much like point of care testing. I think this is also an opportunity, in these areas, to really reflect and challenge, for example, why, particularly in point of care testing, the adoption has been lacking discovery to a significant extent.

Even so, a lot of these concepts have been tossed out already during the last couple of years. I think the clinical adoption, and the clinical value has not been presented sufficiently. I think this is, for me, an avenue to further explore and understand what can be done in this particular area.

 

Kaitlin Searfoss:
Thank you for your time and insights today. That was Reinier Babiel, PhD, Executive Director of Consulting at RBDC. He'll be speaking at the Molecular Diagnostics for Infectious Disease Conference at the upcoming Next Generation Diagnostic Summit, taking place August 19th through 20th, 2015, in Washington DC. I'm Kaitlin Searfoss. Thank you for listening.