Session Abstract – PMWC 2017 Silicon Valley
Session Synopsis: This session will cover new technologies and methods for detection of infectious disease outbreaks, including internet-based and laboratory testing, and the decision process to move forward with new commercial diagnostic / therapeutic products. It will also highlight public health surveillance and response to emerging agents with a discussion of the challenges and novel approaches.
Session Chair Profile
M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Clinical Microbiology Lab, UCSF
Biography
Steve Miller MD, PhD is Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at the University of California San Francisco and Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Miller trained at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. His research involves translation of novel molecular methods for diagnosis and monitoring of clinical infectious disease, with over 40 publications. Dr. Miller has received several grants to provide clinically actionable results from large sequence data sets, including the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine project for clinical implementation of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for precision diagnosis of acute infectious diseases.
Speaker Profile
M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Public Health
Biography
Dr. Dongxiang Xia is the Director of Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory at California Department of Public Health. Previously he served as the Director of Regional Public Health Laboratory in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to that, he was Chief of Virology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington DC. In these roles he has directed laboratories for the diagnosis, investigation, surveillance and control of communicable diseases, response to emerging infections and outbreaks. Dr. Xia received his Medical Degree at Nanjing Medical University and his PhD in microbiology at the Fourth Military Medical University in China. He did postdoctoral research at Uppsala University in Sweden, the University of Kansas and the NIH in USA. He is a certified Diplomate by the American Board of Medical Microbiology and a certified Specialist in Virology by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He has been members of various committees of national professional organizations.
Talk
Emerging Viral Infections: Public Health Laboratories Response
Most of the emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in the new Century, from novel influenza to Zika, are viral diseases. Public health laboratories (PHLs) play critical roles in diagnosis, surveillance, and investigation of these diseases and outbreaks. This presentation outlines the challenges PHLs face, their preparedness and response to viral EIDs.
Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Divisional Vice President, Applied Research & Technology, Abbott Diagnostics
Biography
Dr. Hackett manages Diagnostics R&D groups in the U.S., Japan and China. Primary areas of focus include: Infectious Diseases, Cardiovascular, Oncology, Clinical Chemistry, Biologics Design, and New Technologies. John had an integral role in development of HIV/hepatitis global surveillance, assessment of the impact of genetic variation on nucleic acid and serological testing technologies, and research-phase development of serological assays for diagnostics and blood screening. He also leads the Abbott-sponsored partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, the UCSF/Abbott Virus Diagnostics and Discovery Center. John received his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and completed his postdoctoral training at The University of Chicago. He joined Abbott in 1992 and is a Senior Research Fellow in Abbott Volwiler Society. John has more than 120 scientific publications and issued/pending patents.
Talk
Challenges Associated With Development of Diagnostics to Emerging Agents
This session will cover the role of viral surveillance and discovery as a foundation for developing infectious disease tests and the multitude of challenges associated with rapid development of new diagnostic tests to address emerging threats.
