As of Wednesday, August 3, a total of 20,000 laboratory medicine professionals had registered for the meeting, which is a 14% increase over meeting attendance in 2015 and the highest number of attendees that have come to the meeting in the last four years. More attendees are expected today, the last day of the meeting.
Highlights of the conference program included five plenary talks presented by luminaries in the field on subjects ranging from programmable bio-nano-chips to the latest research on cannabis. John T. McDevitt, PhD, winner of AACC鈥檚 2016 Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award, gave the opening keynote on the programmable bio-nano-chip, and how it could be used to diagnose conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease before symptoms even manifest.
Monday鈥檚 plenary speaker Sir Richard Peto, FRS, outlined his bold vision for halving the global risk of death before age 70 in the next 20 years. Tuesday鈥檚 plenary with Andrew P. Feinberg, MD, MPH, explored the relationship between epigenetic changes and common human disease, and the exciting implications this has for molecular diagnostics and novel forms of therapy. On Wednesday, Zoltan Takats, PhD, and Virginia LiVolsi, MD, discussed the 鈥渋ntelligent鈥� surgical knife, a novel device that could enable instantaneous differentiation of malignant from benign tissue during tumor resection. And in today鈥檚 closing keynote, Marilyn Huestis, PhD, presented the latest findings on the impact of cannabis use on overall health and driving, as well as how to detect impairment from cannabis.
Late-breaking sessions at the meeting spotlighted timely research in the field of healthcare. In 鈥淶ika Virus 鈥� Global Impact and the Role of Diagnostic Testing,鈥� leading researchers gave an overview of the Zika epidemic and discussed emergency use authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration for Zika tests, as well as an innovative paper-based diagnostic for the virus. In the session, 鈥淐orrecting Nature鈥檚 Mistakes and Beyond: The Promise of Gene Therapy,鈥� experts examined gene editing with the revolutionary technique CRISPR. The two-part session 鈥淭echnologies That Could Change the Future of the Clinical Laboratory鈥� looked at disruptive technologies that could enhance the patient testing experience, from drones that transport patient samples to alternative blood sampling techniques that could eliminate the need for painful venous blood draws. Three sessions on hepatitis C also explored treatment and prevention for the disease, a debate on its future, and the latest science on laboratory testing for the virus.
Additionally, in a widely anticipated special session, Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes presented preliminary validation data for a compact instrument called 鈥渕iniLab,鈥� the inside of a cartridge-based testing system, video and description of micro-collection devices, and a concept called a virtual analyzer.
The 68th AACC Clinical Lab Expo featured more than 730 exhibitors and covered 244,000 net square feet, making this the largest show floor in AACC鈥檚 history. This dynamic exhibit featured groundbreaking tests from all laboratory medicine disciplines, including mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation.
鈥淎t the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting, leaders in laboratory medicine demonstrated the integral role they play in healthcare鈥攚hether it鈥檚 curbing outbreaks of infectious diseases like Zika, finding new solutions to tackle diabetes, or offering essential insights into cannabis use for policymakers,鈥� said AACC CEO Janet B. Kreizman. 鈥淟aboratory medicine professionals continue to develop innovative solutions to patient health problems, and I look forward to seeing the new advances that will be presented at next year鈥檚 conference.鈥�
The AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo will head to San Diego from July 30鈥揂ugust 3, 2017.
About the 68th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab ExpoThe AACC Annual Scientific Meeting offers 5 days packed with opportunities to learn about exciting science from July 31鈥揂ugust 4. Plenary sessions feature the latest research on the use of and testing for cannabis, combating premature death due to preventable causes such as tobacco and alcohol, the development of an 鈥渋ntelligent鈥� surgical knife, programmable bio-nano-chips, and the epigenetic causes of disease.
At the AACC Clinical Lab Expo, more than 750 exhibitors will fill the show floor of Philadelphia鈥檚 Pennsylvania Convention Center, with displays of the latest diagnostic technology, including but not limited to mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation.
About AACCDedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit .
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