National thought leaders in mass spectrometry (MS) will convene Oct. 5-6 in Philadelphia to discuss current and future applications of the technology at the Mass Spectrometry and Separation Sciences for Laboratory Medicine 7th Annual Conference.
Participants will hear about the latest practices on troubleshooting and quality control, proteomics and metabolomics, new developments in clinical practices, and future applications—including cancer moonshot projects, Yan Victoria Zhang, PhD, DABCC, the conference’s program chair, told CLN Stat.
The sessions will offer great insight into next-generation clinical MS, a concept coined by the AACC Mass Spectrometry and Separation Sciences Division, she said. “It defines the challenges we are facing and the future applications of mass spectrometry, which include automation, training, education, and regulatory concerns that will guide us to the next-stage development of mass spectrometry in clinical diagnosis.”
The conference was developed in collaboration with the College of American Pathologists. As MS functions expand in clinical diagnostics, “integration between laboratory medicine and anatomic pathology has become an important area for clinical mass spectrometry. We will hear different perspectives about clinical mass spectrometry applications from both sides,” said Zhang, director of the clinical mass spectrometry and toxicology laboratory and associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.
This year’s agenda includes three new programs to expand upon the conference’s educational opportunities. The first will include a session for trainees and individuals presenting research and clinical work at the early stages of their career. Participants in another venue will discuss laboratory-developed tests and approval-related topics in a one-on-one session with U.S. Food and Drug Administration representatives.
And for the first time, the conference will offer significant discounts for meeting attendants to take AACC’s liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS online certificate program.
“We understand the challenges for bench technologists to travel to and attend such meetings and the importance of gaining knowledge in this area,” Zhang said. “They can also invite their colleagues to participate in the certificate program at the same discounted rate.”
The conference will also continue its half-day on-site workshop/lab tour to provide firsthand experience with prestigious LC-MS/MS labs in the Philadelphia region.
Zhang is excited about all of the sessions this year. “Each one brings unique value and aspects to our audience.”
She’s particularly looking forward to Henry Rodriguez’s “Take Us to the Moon” presentation. Rodriguez, PhD, MS, MBA, directs the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research. “This is part of the federal government’s cancer moonshot efforts, and it will bring us fresh perspectives on potential and near future applications on targeted mass spectrometry in clinical diagnostics,” she said.
The conference is designed for laboratory scientists, medical technologists, lab directors, managers, and pathologists. Individuals with some experience in MS and/or individuals who are interested in learning more about MS to guide their decisions in implementing the technology in the lab would benefit the most from this conference, Zhang said.
Register now to get the latest information on the diagnostic contributions of MS technology and earn 9.5 ACCENT credit hours.